What does "ropes" mean?

1. (thick cords) more than one thick, strong cord made by twisting many strings together. 2. (basic skills) the basic rules or skills you need to know to do a job or activity.

How do you use "ropes"?

Almost always used in the plural as part of the phrase 'learn the ropes' or 'show someone the ropes'.

ropes

US //ˈɹoʊps// UK //ɹˈəʊps// ropes

1 thick cords (n.)
A2 Elementary

more than one thick, strong cord made by twisting many strings together.

the plural form of rope; lengths of strong, thick cordage used for binding, pulling, or climbing.

Example

The sailors pulled the heavy ropes to raise the sails before the storm arrived.

Example

The climbers inspected their ropes for any signs of fraying before attempting the final ascent of the granite face.
- cords
- lines
- cables
2 basic skills (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

the basic rules or skills you need to know to do a job or activity.

the fundamental procedures or specialized techniques required to perform a task or navigate an organization.

Example

It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at my new office job.

Example

The senior partner spent the afternoon showing the new associates the ropes, explaining the firm's filing system and client protocols.

Usage

Almost always used in the plural as part of the phrase 'learn the ropes' or 'show someone the ropes'.

Teacher's tip

This idiom likely originates from the days of sailing ships, where new sailors had to learn which rope controlled which sail.

Origin

In the sense of skills, a now figurative use that originally referred to literal ropes. The phrase “he knows the ropes” written on a seaman’s discharge meant that he was inexperienced and only familiar with a ship’s principal ropes.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026