on the ropes

Meanings

prepositional phrase

boxingLeaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse.
The champ had his opponent on the ropes at the end of the third round and knocked him out in the fourth.
broadlyfigurativelyShowing signs of imminent failure or collapse.
After a good start in the stock market, this company seems to be on the ropes.
1 more example
So Ukraine is on the ropes. Using that boxing metaphor, one immediately thinks of the new world heavyweight champion, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, who was seemingly down and out under the ferocious assault of the giant Tyson Fury, but then came back to win on points at the end of a brutal 12 rounds.
2024 May 24, Timothy Garton Ash, “Ukraine can still recover with bolder western support – but right now it’s on the ropes”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 14 Dec 2024
Multicultural London EnglishbroadlyBeing threatened or pressured by a rival gang member.

Also see

Catalan contra les cordes

Finnish köysissä, nojaamassa köysiin

köysissäleaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse
nojaamassa köysiinleaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse
pulassashowing signs of imminent failure or collapse
toivottamassa jamassashowing signs of imminent failure or collapse

German in den Seilen, in den Seilen

in den Seilenleaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse
in den Seilenshowing signs of imminent failure or collapse

Irish ar na rópaí, in ísle brí

ar na rópaíleaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse
in ísle bríshowing signs of imminent failure or collapse
ar an dé deiridhshowing signs of imminent failure or collapse
ag streachailtshowing signs of imminent failure or collapse

Italian essere alla frutta

essere alla fruttaleaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse

Portuguese na corda bamba

Spanish contra las cuerdas, contra las cuerdas

contra las cuerdasleaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse
contra las cuerdasshowing signs of imminent failure or collapse

Cite this entry

APA

on the ropes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20ropes

MLA

“on the ropes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20ropes. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the ropes,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20ropes.