# rope of sand

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rope-of-sand
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something incohesive, flimsy, disconnected or unreliable

## Examples

- Their plan is a rope of sand.
- The new business partnership fell apart quickly because their agreement was just a rope of sand.
- Despite the leader's grand promises of unity, the coalition proved to be a rope of sand that dissolved at the first sign of political pressure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.