know the ropes
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.66 in modern English
24
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
1
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To have experience of the appropriate procedures; know how a particular task or job should be done (with reference to ropes used in sailing).
Example Sentences
- "A traveller from Pontypridd to Llantrisant, not knowing the ropes, would naturally travel to the station of that name, only to find himself at Pont-y-Clun, two miles distant, and probably would not be at all soothed to discover that, had he alighted at the previous station (known as Cross Inn), he would have been within half a mile of his objective. [the station at Pontyclun was named Llantrisant before it closed, it later reopened as Pontyclun]"
Inflected Forms
knows the ropes (present, singular)
knowing the ropes (participle, present)
knew the ropes (past)
known the ropes (participle, past)
Phrases
learn the ropes
show someone the ropes
Frequently Paired Words
learn the ropes
show someone the ropes