on\ the\ ropes

on\ the\ ropes
adv or adj. phr.
1. Against the ropes of a boxing ring and almost not able to stand up.

The fighter was on the ropes and could hardly lift his gloves.

2. Almost defeated; helpless; near failure.

The new supermarket took most of the business from Mr. Tomas's grocery, and the little store was soon on the ropes.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • the ropes — informal the established procedures in an organization or area of activity: → rope the ropes the ropes enclosing a boxing or wrestling ring. → rope …   English new terms dictionary

  • (the) ropes — the ropes phrase the thick ropes that enclose an area that is used for boxing or wrestling He stumbled back against the ropes. Thesaurus: boxing and wrestlinghyponym sports events and competitionshyponym …   Useful english dictionary

  • the ropes — the thick ropes that enclose an area that is used for boxing or wrestling He stumbled back against the ropes …   English dictionary

  • The Ropes — is the debut album by Akron, Ohio based indie rock band Adios . Recorded in summer of 2002 at [http://www.workbookstudio.com Workbook Studio ] in Columbus, Ohio, it was released on April 22nd, 2003 by Tribunal Records. Track listing 1. Bullet For …   Wikipedia

  • the ropes — {n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. * /On a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who knows the ropes./ * /When you go to a new school it… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • the ropes — {n. plural}, {informal} Thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. * /On a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who knows the ropes./ * /When you go to a new school it… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • the\ ropes — n. plural informal thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world. On a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who knows the ropes. When you go to a new school it takes a while …   Словарь американских идиом

  • know the ropes — See: THE ROPES …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • learn the ropes — See: THE ROPES …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • teach the ropes — See: THE ROPES …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • know the ropes — See: THE ROPES …   Dictionary of American idioms

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