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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Not in the classroom, but from the hunters who trust me and other veteran hunters to show them the ropes. —

Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024 The younger actor is still learning the ropes of Hollywood — and, indeed, nearly had his own reason to begrudge Netflix. —

Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 But while that approach has brought him a stunning comeback in politics, putting him on the cusp of a second term as president, his original business — New York real estate — is on the ropes. —

Paula Aceves, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024 Narasimhan spent a few months learning the ropes from Schultz before taking the baton. —

Paulina Likos, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the ropes