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
Belair scaled the ropes and tried a 450, which was blocked by Morgan.
—
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Grandpa struggles to use his iPhone until his Millennial granddaughter shows him the ropes.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
Arie Garcia-Evans and her Waubonsie Valley basketball teammates were on the ropes after absorbing more than a few literal body blows against Bolingbrook in the Class 4A sectional semifinals on Tuesday.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
If Leverkusen were on the ropes at that point, the knockout blow came in the second half.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the ropes
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Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Grandpa struggles to use his iPhone until his Millennial granddaughter shows him the ropes.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
Arie Garcia-Evans and her Waubonsie Valley basketball teammates were on the ropes after absorbing more than a few literal body blows against Bolingbrook in the Class 4A sectional semifinals on Tuesday.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
If Leverkusen were on the ropes at that point, the knockout blow came in the second half.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 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 10 Mar. 2025.
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