ropes

English

Etymology

In the sense of skills, a now figurative use that originally referred to literal ropes. The phrase “he knows the ropes” written on a seaman’s discharge meant that he was inexperienced and only familiar with a ship’s principal ropes.[1]

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /ɹoʊps/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹəʊps/
Rhymes: -əʊps
Audio (US) (file)

Noun

ropes

plural of rope
(in the plural, with the) Basic skills of a job.
show the ropes, learn the ropes

Verb

ropes

third-person singular simple present indicative form of rope

References

William L. Brackin (July 1991), “Military Courtesy”, in Naval Orientation (NAVEDTRA; 12966), Washington, D.C.: Naval Education and Training Program Management Support Activity; United States Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 7-19.

Anagrams

OPers., Peros, Perso-, S'pore, Soper, Spero, opers, pores, poser, preso, pro se, prose, reops, repos, soper, spore

Asturian

Noun

ropes

plural of ropa

Middle English

Noun

ropes

plural of rop (“rope”)

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[1] William L. Brackin (July 1991), “Military Courtesy”, in Naval Orientation (NAVEDTRA; 12966), Washington, D.C.: Naval Education and Training Program Management Support Activity; United States Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 7-19.