doing badly and likely to fail.

His political career is on the ropes.

Etymology: from the idea of a weakened prize fighter who leans against the ropes that surround the boxing ring

• in the line of fire
• in the long haul
• in the long run
• in the long term
• in the loop
• in the main
• in the making
• in the market for
• in the market for something
• in the meantime
• in the meanwhile
• in the medium term
• in the middle of
• in the middle of doing something
• in the middle of nowhere
• in the middle of something
• in the midst of
• in the midst of doing something
• in the midst of something
• in the money
• in the name of
• in the name of something
• in the neighborhood of
• in the neighborhood of something
• in the nick of time