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
Francona said Cleveland’s offense had L.A. on the ropes all night.
—
Joe Noga, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2023
Montaldo cut his teeth as a director working as a first assistant director to Lizzani, Gillo Pontecorvo, and Elio Petri, learning the ropes from some of the masters of Italian cinema.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 Sep. 2023
Last season, Texas A&M hosted UMass in a game that saw the Minutemen, who went 1-11 last fall, keep the Aggies on the ropes.
—Ainslie Lee | Alee@al.com, al, 29 Aug. 2023
After running for governor as a political outsider, Youngkin picked a Cabinet that mixed newcomers to Richmond and government with a few old hands who knew the ropes in Virginia’s divided Capitol.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
But now, an alarming number of American theater and opera companies are on the ropes, if not down for the count.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2023
One of her jobs was pulling the ropes of an elevator that still exists in College Hall, a considerable physical strain for the diminutive young woman.
—cleveland, 23 Aug. 2023
Some years, there were few or no spat on the ropes at all.
—Sabrina Shankman, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Because of his stellar reputation, Justin Bieber’s personal chef became a mentor to Williams showed him the ropes of being private catering.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 15 Aug. 2023
See More
Joe Noga, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2023
Montaldo cut his teeth as a director working as a first assistant director to Lizzani, Gillo Pontecorvo, and Elio Petri, learning the ropes from some of the masters of Italian cinema.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 Sep. 2023
Last season, Texas A&M hosted UMass in a game that saw the Minutemen, who went 1-11 last fall, keep the Aggies on the ropes.
—Ainslie Lee | Alee@al.com, al, 29 Aug. 2023
After running for governor as a political outsider, Youngkin picked a Cabinet that mixed newcomers to Richmond and government with a few old hands who knew the ropes in Virginia’s divided Capitol.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
But now, an alarming number of American theater and opera companies are on the ropes, if not down for the count.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2023
One of her jobs was pulling the ropes of an elevator that still exists in College Hall, a considerable physical strain for the diminutive young woman.
—cleveland, 23 Aug. 2023
Some years, there were few or no spat on the ropes at all.
—Sabrina Shankman, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Because of his stellar reputation, Justin Bieber’s personal chef became a mentor to Williams showed him the ropes of being private catering.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 15 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the ropes.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the ropes
Cite this Entry
“The ropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20ropes. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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