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

Julius Creed leapt up the ropes, but was thwarted, leading to a 619 and the win for LWO. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

And now the two-time defending champion Mesa Ridge Grizzlies are suddenly on the ropes. —Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025

Luckily, my partner was excited to show me the ropes. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025

New school boards always take a while to learn and understand the ropes of a school district’s finances, but typically, guidance is provided by the district’s economic advisers, not outside assessors. —Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for the ropes

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