on the ropes
US /ɑn ðə roʊps/
UK /ɑn ðə roʊps/
1.
alle corde, in difficoltà, sull'orlo della sconfitta
in a very bad situation or close to defeat
:
•
After several bad quarters, the company was on the ropes.
Dopo diversi trimestri negativi, l'azienda era alle corde.
•
The boxer was on the ropes in the final round, barely able to stand.
Il pugile era alle corde nell'ultimo round, a malapena in grado di stare in piedi.