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
Bevacqua was chairman of NBC Sports when he was hired in 2023 to learn the ropes from Jack Swarbrick and replace him last year.
—
Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Paolini had Świątek on the ropes early, surging to a 3-0 lead.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Scotty's currently learning the ropes from chief engineer Pelia, and — unlike original actor James Doohan — Martin Quinn is actually Scottish.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The Denver Zoo’s lion habitat may get a lot more rambunctious in the coming months as four African lion cubs learn the ropes of their new pride.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the ropes
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Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Paolini had Świątek on the ropes early, surging to a 3-0 lead.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Scotty's currently learning the ropes from chief engineer Pelia, and — unlike original actor James Doohan — Martin Quinn is actually Scottish.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The Denver Zoo’s lion habitat may get a lot more rambunctious in the coming months as four African lion cubs learn the ropes of their new pride.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the ropes
Cite this Entry
“The ropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20ropes. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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