Word
ropes
US/ˈɹoʊps/
UK/ɹˈəʊps/
Definitions
01thick cords
n. more than one thick, strong cord made by twisting many strings together.
n. the plural form of rope; lengths of strong, thick cordage used for binding, pulling, or climbing.
“The sailors pulled the heavy ropes to raise the sails before the storm arrived.”
“The climbers inspected their ropes for any signs of fraying before attempting the final ascent of the granite face.”
02basic skills
n. the basic rules or skills you need to know to do a job or activity.
n. the fundamental procedures or specialized techniques required to perform a task or navigate an organization.
“It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at my new office job.”
“The senior partner spent the afternoon showing the new associates the ropes, explaining the firm's filing system and client protocols.”
Informal
Usage
Almost always used in the plural as part of the phrase 'learn the ropes' or 'show someone the ropes'.
Teaching tip
This idiom likely originates from the days of sailing ships, where new sailors had to learn which rope controlled which sail.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The Manchester band have had to learn the ropes quickly.” “Cameron forced Mayer against the ropes in round four, and again at the start of the fifth.” Etymology
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.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/ropes