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
The defending champion Celtics are on the ropes, down 3-1 in this series after blowing another double-digit lead in the second half on Monday night.
—
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Julius Creed impressively scaled the ropes and hit a superplex on Ivar followed by moonsault from Brutus.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
China’s economy is on the ropes, amid a housing crisis and an emerging debt crisis.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Retailers on the ropes with only the big three: Amazon , Costco , and Walmart — plus off-price retailer TJX thriving?
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the ropes
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Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Julius Creed impressively scaled the ropes and hit a superplex on Ivar followed by moonsault from Brutus.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
China’s economy is on the ropes, amid a housing crisis and an emerging debt crisis.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Retailers on the ropes with only the big three: Amazon , Costco , and Walmart — plus off-price retailer TJX thriving?
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 11 May 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 25 May. 2025.
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