1. On the ropes 处境艰难，行将失败
The taxi company has been on the ropes since the gas price went up and up last year.
自从去年油价不断攀升以来，出租车公司的处境愈发艰难。
释义：
ropes：拳击台的围绳
on the ropes：拳击手被对方打得站也站不稳，靠在围绳上，可谓处境艰难，前景不妙。
2. On top of 除......之外
I ate a lot this morning - 2 pieces of bread, 2 apples; on top of that, I drank 3 boxes of milk.
今早我吃了很多——两片面包，两个苹果，另外，还喝了三盒牛奶。
