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
After an early tutorial sequence where players learn the ropes of controlling the powerful yet agile ape, the story introduces its antagonists: Void Company, an evil corporate mining operation hell-bent on creating a golden banana monopoly.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
An employee: Selling to someone who already knows the ropes can create a seamless transition.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Kiki has been showing Shaggy the ropes of how to be a dog, while also easing his fears and anxieties.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Through it all, the Lakers remained a family business in its truest sense, Buss’ youngest sons Joey and Jesse learning the ropes in business and scouting in the same way his older children did.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for the ropes
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Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
An employee: Selling to someone who already knows the ropes can create a seamless transition.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Kiki has been showing Shaggy the ropes of how to be a dog, while also easing his fears and anxieties.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Through it all, the Lakers remained a family business in its truest sense, Buss’ youngest sons Joey and Jesse learning the ropes in business and scouting in the same way his older children did.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 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 6 Jul. 2025.
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