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On the ropes

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 ropes|Idiomatic Phrase|Near defeat, collapse, or exhaustion; originates from boxing, describing a fighter backed against the ropes, struggling to survive or recover.

Detailed Definition
On the ropes means weakened, near defeat, or under severe pressure, drawing from boxing when a fighter is driven back against the ropes. In poetry, it can describe a person, relationship, argument, government, town, or hope close to collapse. The idiom is dramatic because defeat is not yet final; survival or reversal remains possible. A poet may use it to create suspense, pity, or admiration for endurance. It is useful for poems about struggle, vulnerability, and last reserves of strength.
Example
Example in poetry:
A boxing poem might place the champion on the ropes, breathing hard beneath the crowd's roar; In political satire, a corrupt minister is on the ropes after the evidence appears; The phrase means close to defeat or under heavy pressure; A poet can use it for struggle and suspense.
Additional Notes
On the ropes means near defeat or under severe pressure, from boxing, where a fighter trapped against the ropes is vulnerable. In poetry, it can dramatise exhaustion, social struggle, illness, debt, or political crisis. The phrase carries physical force: the body is still upright but cornered. Students should notice that defeat is not final yet; the idiom preserves suspense and the possibility of recovery.
Also Known As
near defeat
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