on the rope —(of mountain climbers) roped together:
- At about 6 we got to where we could unrope—having been 48 hours on the rope.
on the ropes—
1. (of a boxer) forced back on to the ropes:
- Referee Brimmell stepped in to save Scot after the challenger had pinned him on the ropes for fully a minute.
2. on the verge of ruin or collapse:
- A good section of the industry was on the ropes and there were times when I wondered if it would survive.
3. = on the rope:
- If they can’t pass some of the slow climbers on the ropes ahead of them, they could run out of time … and oxygen.