# throw someone a rope

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/throw-someone-a-rope
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To rescue someone by providing them with help, such as material aid, financial aid, a face-saving excuse, or a clue.

## Examples

- He was struggling, so I threw him a rope.
- When she realized her colleague was failing the project, she threw him a rope by offering to help with the data.
- Recognizing that his reputation was at stake, the manager threw him a rope by publicly attributing the error to a technical glitch rather than personal incompetence.

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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.