mettere alle corde

Italian

Literally, “to put to the ropes”.

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)