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On the rocks

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

On the rocks|Idiomatic Phrase|In a state of difficulty, trouble, or near failure, especially regarding relationships or businesses; literally refers to drinks served with ice cubes.

Detailed Definition
On the rocks means in serious trouble or likely to fail, especially of relationships, plans, or businesses; it can also refer to a drink served over ice. In poetry, the idiom’s double meaning is useful: a marriage may be on the rocks in a bar where whisky is literally on the rocks. The rocky image suggests wreckage, danger, coldness, and impact. A poet may use it for emotional breakdown, social decline, or bitter humour at the edge of ruin.
Example
Example in poetry:
A sea poem might use on the rocks literally for a ship broken under cliffs; In a love poem, a marriage on the rocks echoes that wrecked vessel image; The phrase means in serious trouble, especially in relationships or plans; A poet can use it for double meaning.
Additional Notes
On the rocks has two common meanings: in serious trouble, especially of relationships or businesses, and served with ice, especially of drinks. This double sense makes it poetically flexible. It can suggest shipwreck, coldness, alcohol, marital crisis, or emotional wreckage. Students should use context carefully. The phrase is especially effective when both meanings echo at once, as in a poem about a failing love over whisky.
Also Known As
failing
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