这个习惯用语可能来自拳击赛。频频挨打的拳击手在对方的步步相逼下，退到赛台边缘，只能靠在赛台四周的绳索上；也就是on the ropes，尽量避免被击倒甚至被击败。要是一名选手on the ropes，那他就是被逼到十分窘迫的地位、濒临失败了。
on the ropes意思是处境岌岌可危。我们再来听个例子。这是个好心人想对处境不佳的Bob伸出友谊之手。
例句-2：We ought to do something to cheer Bob up. He's really on the ropes these days. He didn't get a promotion, and a few days later his wife fell ill and is still in the hospital. 他说： 我们该去给Bob打打气。他最近可真不顺利，先是没得到提升，过几天他太太又病倒了。
2009年 07月 
