idiom · neutral
on the rocks
UK/ɒn ðə rɒks/US/ɑːn ðə rɑːks/on·the·ROCKS
in serious difficulty or close to failure (often used about relationships or businesses)
Examples
“Their marriage has been on the rocks since he lost his job.”
“The deal went on the rocks when both sides disagreed over terms.”
“With debts mounting, the company is on the rocks.”
Band 8 sentence
“After repeated management errors and falling sales, the corporation found itself on the rocks, prompting a major restructuring.”
Collocations
- be on the rocks
- relationship on the rocks
Word family
Common mistakes
Their business is in the rocks.→Their business is on the rocks.
Our marriage is on rocks.→Our marriage is on the rocks.
Say it for a higher band
5in trouble→6in difficulty→7+on the rocks
Synonyms
in trouble
in jeopardy
Easily confused
in trouble
“When the product failed safety tests, the company was clearly in trouble.”
Related words
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In Hardship
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