rope-a-dope
UK[ˈrəʊp ə dəʊp]US[ˈroʊp ə doʊp]
n
A boxing strategy of pretending to be trapped against the ropes while conserving energy and letting the opponent tire themselves out with ineffective punches.
n
A deceptive strategy in any conflict that involves feigning weakness or vulnerability to lure an opponent into a disadvantageous position.
Morpheme Breakdown
rope
a
dope
rope
a
dope
Etymology
The term is a modern American English compound, famously coined to describe Muhammad Ali's tactic against George Foreman in the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match. It is built from the concrete nouns 'rope' and 'dope', connected by the filler 'a', creating a vivid, rhyming phrase. The logic is entirely metaphorical: the strategy involves using the 'ropes' as a prop while acting like a 'dope' (a stupid, sluggish person) to deceive the opponent. This specific sporting term has since broadened into general use for any ruse involving strategic feigned passivity.
Analysis
Structure: rope + a + dope
rope: (English, from Old English rāp) The literal object, the ropes of a boxing ring.
a: (English) A connecting particle, often used in informal compound formations.
dope: (English, from Dutch doop 'sauce') Slang term for a foolish or slow-witted person; here, it refers to the feigned state of being a passive, helpless target.
Examples
Ali's famous rope-a-dope tactic exhausted Foreman and led to a stunning knockout.
In the debate, her apparent silence was merely a rope-a-dope, waiting for her opponent to overcommit.
The company used a rope-a-dope strategy, absorbing the competitor's aggressive marketing blitz before launching a superior product.