mettere alle corde
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Italian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Literally, “to put to the ropes”.
Verb[edit]
méttere alle corde (first-person singular present métto alle corde, first-person singular past historic mìsi alle corde, past participle mésso alle corde, auxiliary avére)
- (boxing) to put (an opponent) in a difficult defensive crouch
- il boxer ha messo lo sfidante alle corde
- the boxer put the challenger in a difficult defensive crouch
- (figurative, by extension) to attack very aggressively, so as to squash any chance for countermoves and force (an adversary) to the defensive
- (figurative) to overwhelm someone with questions during a cross-examination
- il procuratore l'ha messo alle corde
- the prosecutor overwhelmed him (with questions)