on the ropes

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the ropes

The deal comes one year after the Ellison family bought Paramount, which had been on the ropes because of significant under-investment over the years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

How Wall Street sussed out that the hedge fund Situational Awareness was on the ropes.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

But it might be debt, not equity, that has SpaceX on the ropes on Monday.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

Scotland were on the ropes, covering up and praying that the punishment would stop.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

And one of the streaks fell on the hanging box where Coyotito lay, and on the ropes that held it.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck