the ropes {n. plural}, {informal}
Thorough or special knowledge of a job; how to do something; the ways of people or the world.
On a newspaper a cub reporter learns his job from an older reporter who knows the ropes.
When you go to a new school it takes a while to learn the ropes.
Betty showed Jane the ropes when she was learning to make a dress.
Mr. Jones was an orphan and he had to learn the ropes when he was young to make his way in the world.
Compare: BE AROUND, INS AND OUTS, TRICK OF THE TRADE. Categories: informal noun world