- Meaning
- This idiom describes someone or something in a precarious, weakened, or near-defeated state, struggling to survive or succeed, as if a boxer is pinned against the ropes of the ring, battered and close to collapse. It conveys vulnerability, desperation, or being overwhelmed by challenges, often used in professional, personal, or competitive contexts to highlight a dire situation with little room for recovery. The phrase carries a tone of tension, sympathy, or dramatic emphasis, reflecting cultural fascination with underdog struggles and the human experience of teetering on the brink of failure. It resonates in high-stakes environments like business, sports, or personal crises, capturing the intensity of fighting to stay afloat, and its boxing imagery adds a layer of visceral urgency, evoking a fighter’s last stand. The idiom often implies a critical moment where resilience or external help is needed to avoid defeat, making it a powerful metaphor for adversity.
- Origin
- The phrase originated in early 20th-century America, rooted in boxing, where a fighter pushed against the ropes was vulnerable to relentless attacks, a common sight in the sport’s brutal early days. Its earliest recorded use appears in a 1924 *New York Times* sports report, describing a boxer as ‘on the ropes’ during a match. The idiom gained traction in the 1920s and 1930s, reflecting the sport’s popularity and the era’s gritty slang, as seen in Ring Lardner’s boxing stories and Ernest Hemingway’s *The Sun Also Rises* (1926), which captures physical and emotional struggles. Its metaphorical use expanded in mid-20th-century American English, particularly during the Great Depression, when businesses and individuals were ‘on the ropes,’ as noted in John Steinbeck’s *The Grapes of Wrath* (1939). The phrase’s adoption in British and Commonwealth English came through American sports and media, notably post-World War II, and its spread was fueled by its vivid imagery, evoking a boxer’s desperate struggle, and its applicability to adversity, ensuring its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from economic reports to personal dramas.
- Variants
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- On the ropes
- Against the ropes
- Pushed to the ropes
- Back on the ropes
- Examples
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- The company’s on the ropes, struggling to recover from massive losses.
- Against the ropes, she fought to keep her job during the layoffs.
- Pushed to the ropes, the team scrambled to meet the impossible deadline.
- Back on the ropes, he faced another setback in his recovery.
- On the ropes, their campaign faltered after the scandal broke.
- Against the ropes, the startup needed a miracle to avoid bankruptcy.
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