拳击短语

The world of boxing gave us famous competitors like Muhammad Ali. It also gave us many expressions that we use in our everyday lives.

Years ago， a boxing match would begin when a boxer threw his hat into the boxing ring—the place where the fight was fought. That does not happen these days. But if you throw your hat into the ring， it does mean that you are signing up or agreeing to do something. You will often hear this expression in the world of politics.

“Is she running for mayor？”

“She is. She threw her hat in the ring last week.”

A boxing ring is surrounded on all four sides by ropes. A boxer trapped along the ropes gets hit a lot. So， to have someone on the ropes means to have them in a dangerous position.

During a fight， there are three people in the ring—two boxers and a referee. The referee makes sure the boxers obey the rules of the sport. He or she can cancel， or call off， a fight if things get too unsafe or risky for one of the boxers. And if a fighter is hit so hard that they fall down， the referee gives the person a count of 10 to get up.

● throw ones hat in/into the ring字面意思是把帽子扔进拳击场。据说在19世纪的拳击比赛中，有人要和拳击手较量，就把帽子扔进拳击场里。后来throw ones hat in the ring就成了一种比喻，意思是参加竞赛或政治竞选。

● on the ropes 俚语，引申含义为：无计可施、毫无办法、处于困境、四面楚歌、快要垮台、就要完蛋等。上述含义均源自拳击比赛，因为拳击擂台四面都用绳子围起来，弱者常常被对手打得摇摇晃晃，靠在围绳上无力还击、节节败退。这种被动挨打的局面在英语里就叫做 on the ropes。

If the fighter gets up， the boxing match continues. If the fighter does not， the match is over. So when you are down for the count， you are not able to compete or not able to join in something. Heres an example：

“Is George coming out tonight for drinks？”

“No， hes got a fever of 102. So， for tonight， hes down for the count.”

To go the distance is the opposite. It means a boxer was able to stay in the ring and not withdraw from the fight. Outside of the boxing ring， it means to see something through to its end.

If you do decide to leave your job， you throw in the towel. This expression comes from the fact that trainers can stop a match for their boxer by throwing a towel into the ring.

So it is good to have someone in your corner， a person looking out for you. That is where a boxers team stands during the end of each round—in his or her own corner. And yes， womens boxing is becoming more and more popular in the United States.

A professional boxing match is made up of 12 periods， called rounds. At the end of each round a bell sounds. To be saved by the bell means you were saved from a bad situation by something—not necessarily a bell.

But let us imagine that you are a student in class. The teacher starts passing out a test. You get nervous， because you forgot to study. Suddenly the bell rings， ending the class period. In this case， you were， quite literally， saved by the bell.

● down for the count 徹底失败。当一名拳击手被对方击倒在地以后，裁判会站在他的旁边慢慢地从一数到十，如果他不能在数到十之前挣扎着站立起来，继续比赛，那么他就输了，换句话说，他就彻底失败了。down for the count 常被用在工商界、政坛或者法律诉讼中，甚至还用于表示情场失意。

● go the distance 是坚持到底、完成全部、贯彻始终的意思。

● throw in the towel 意思是认输，承认失败，宣告放弃，源于拳击比赛。当拳击手打不过对方，他的教练就会抛一条毛巾入场，表示认输。

● have someone in your corner 有人给予你帮助和支持，有人为你着想。在每个回合结束时，拳击手的团队就站在他（她）的角落。

● be saved by the bell 在紧要关头得救的意思。这个习惯用语是来自拳击比赛。比赛时负责计算时间的人一打铃就表示一个回合的开始，再打铃表示这个回合结束。当一个拳击手被对方打倒在地的时候，裁判员就站在边上，对着他开始慢慢地从一数到十。要是计算时间的人在裁判员还没有数到十的时候打铃表示这场回合的时间已到，比赛就在短暂休息后再继续进行。