the ropes

plural noun

1

: the special way things are done at a particular place or in a particular activity

The veteran cop showed the rookie the ropes.

It will take a few weeks for new employees to learn the ropes.

someone who knows the ropes

2

: a fence made of rope that encloses a boxing or wrestling ring

The boxer was pushed back against the ropes.

Examples of the ropes in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While patrons are free to wear shorts, beyond the ropes where players and coaches can be, full-length pants are required. —Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Read the full Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Capricorn (December 21 - January 19) Showing someone the ropes? —Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Under the oak tree Workers climbing among the upper limbs of the famed oak tree outside the Augusta National clubhouse and a fleet of Toro Workman carts laden with rope ladders and assorted gear parked alongside the ropes created a potential flash-mob scene at mid-afternoon Wednesday. —Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025

But when things went south and Biden was on the ropes, Barack Obama never picked up the phone. —Terry Gross, NPR, 8 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for the ropes

• antelopes
• biotopes
• cantaloupes
• envelopes
• epitopes
• gyroscopes
• horoscopes
• isotopes
• microscopes
• telescopes
• copes
• gropes