the ropes

plural noun

: 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

: 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

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Although he’s not used to caring for children, Sam begins to learn the ropes and temporarily resigns his bachelor lifestyle. —

Lisa Stardust, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024 Connecting with seasoned franchisees is also a great way to get real-life advice and learn the ropes faster. —

Aaron Harper, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 Aaron Kaplan, a WMA alumnus turned producer, was among those who learned the ropes of cutting deals and keeping clients on top in TV from Auerbach. —

William Earl, Variety, 24 Nov. 2024 And don’t be afraid to pick up a controller and ask him to show you the ropes. —

R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the ropes