| 释义 |
ˈrope-a-dope, n. U.S. Boxing slang.
[f. rope n.1 (sense 2 c), perh. infl. by rope v.1 (sense 4), + a a.2 + dope n.]
A tactic whereby a boxer rests against the ropes and protects himself with his arms and gloves, so goading an opponent to throw tiring, ineffective punches. Freq. attrib.
The strategy is particularly associated with Muhammad Ali (b. 1942), world heavyweight champion three times between 1964 and 1978, who is said to have coined the phrase.
1975Sports Illustr. 26 May 74/1 Rope-a-dope had worked against George Foreman in Zaire; it is doubtful that the technique will ever work again against an Ali opponent. 1976Newsweek 4 July 93/1 (heading) Rope-a-Dopes... Each time Mohammed escaped by scrambling to the ropes. 1979Arizona Daily Star 22 July c4/2 Pedroza worked his version of the Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope early on, laying on the ropes while Olivares flailed away at the champion's body. 1980N.Y. Times Mag. 2 Mar. 42/2 As age caught up with him [sc. Ali], he started counter-punching, and he developed the rope-a-dope style, where he would let the other guy punch himself out and then come back and put him away. |