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

According to a source cited by TC of the insider X account WrestleVotes, LeRae has recently been learning the ropes of match production within WWE. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

For the first time this season, Charlotte (1-7, 0-5 American) held a second-half lead against an FBS opponent, putting the American Conference championship-hopeful Mean Green on the ropes with an unexpected offensive explosion. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025

Plus, the ropes course and a pig race ride are returning for 2025. —Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025

My partner’s mum had a sewing machine and generously showed me the ropes. —Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for the ropes

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