on the ropes

idiom

The phrase "on the ropes" originates from boxing, where a fighter leans against the ropes when close to defeat. It is now widely used in various contexts to describe precarious situations.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)In a vulnerable or disadvantaged position, often close to failure.

Example

After losing several key clients, the company is on the ropes.
The politician's career was on the ropes after the scandal.

B2Competition

(informal)Experiencing severe difficulty or trouble, especially in a competitive situation.

Example

The team was on the ropes after conceding three goals in the first half.
The chess player found himself on the ropes after a series of bad moves.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on the ropes":

the end of one's rope on the hook on the high rope down to the wire on the back foot on the edge on one's last legs rope up tied in knots on the line down for the count out at the heels on the fence out on one's feet tied up in tatters goat rope in the weeds on thin ice strung out at loose ends at sixes and sevens down and out under the gun at bay on the rails in irons between a rock and a hard place under the pump on the turn in a world of hurt on the defensive dance on a rope