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on the ropes
Idioms and Phrases
On the verge of defeat or collapse, helpless, as in They acknowledged that their campaign was on the ropes, and they could not possibly win the election . This expression, alluding to a boxer forced back to the ropes of the ring and leaning against them for support, has been used figuratively since the mid-1900s.Example Sentences
But in this moment, with Sasaki seemingly on the ropes, Roberts got his bullpen active while staring toward the mound with a contemplative gaze.
They had an Italy side on the ropes, lacking in motivation after their pumping by France, before giving the likes of Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello and some proud Italian players a bit of life to not make it difficult, but a bit awkward.
In boxing parlance, Scotland were stuck on the ropes, almost defenceless, eyes rolling in the back of their head as Wales unloaded.
The Fenerbahce backline were on the ropes.
Liverpool were on the ropes for 87 minutes against Paris St-Germain at the Parc des Princes, but Harvey Elliott struck less than a minute after coming on as a substitute to secure a 1-0 first-leg advantage for the Reds in their last-16 tie.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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