learn the ropes

English

Etymology

Of nautical origin: in the past, the phrase “he knows the ropes” written on a seaman’s discharge meant that he was inexperienced and familiar only with a ship’s principal ropes.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlɜːn ðə ˈɹəʊps/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlɝn ðə ˈɹoʊps/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

learn the ropes (third-person singular simple present learns the ropes, present participle learning the ropes, simple past and past participle learned the ropes or learnt the ropes)

1. (originally nautical, informal) To learn the basics or master introductory knowledge.

   Work slowly and cautiously until you have learned the ropes.

   • 1865 June 1, Charles Sumner, “Eulogy”, in Documents of the City of Boston, for the Year 1865, volume II (Containing Documents from No. 44 to No. 115, Inclusive), Boston, Mass.: J. E. Farwell and Company, , published 1866, →OCLC, page 137:

     When he [Abraham Lincoln] became President he was without any considerable experience in public affairs; nor was he much versed in history, whose lessons would have been most valuable. As he became more familiar with the place, his facility evidently increased. He had "learned the ropes," so he said.

   • 1869, Samuel H Terry, “Introductory”, in The Retailer’s Manual: Embodying the Conclusions of Thirty Years’ Experience in Merchandizing, Newark, N.J.: Printed for the author, by Jennings Brothers, →OCLC, page 16:

     He thinks he needs no education for that work; it is just as natural to him as it is to eat and drink; and he is ready at once to undertake the management of the largest retail house in town, only needing to be shown a day or two, "till he learns the ropes."

   • 1869, , chapter XII, in The Gay Boys of Old Yale!: A Book of Wit and Humor. Showing the Scrapes & Escapes of College Life, and How the Boys “Go It” at New Haven, Hinsdale, N.H.: Hunter & Co., publishers, →OCLC, page 66:

     “[...] I am very ignorant in regard to your rules and usages here, but undoubtedly one can soon learn all the particulars.” / “O, yes,” rejoined Derby, with a smile, “one can soon ‘learn the ropes.’ [...]”

   • 1886, Stephen F. Blanding, “On Board the Guardo”, in Recollections of a Sailor Boy: Or The Cruise of the Gunboat Louisiana, Providence, R.I.: E. A. Johnson & Co., , →OCLC, page 37:

     Phil had "learned the ropes," so he showed us the principal points of interest aboard ship.

   • 1970, Stephen J. Miller, “Learning the Work of an Internship”, in Prescription for Leadership: Training for the Medical Elite (Observations), Chicago, Ill.: Aldine Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 124; reprinted as The Medical Elite: Training for Leadership, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Routledge, 2017, →ISBN, page 124:

     Evidently they know that failure to learn the ropes may preclude learning anything else. If the intern does not learn whom to consult and how to secure his help, he will not learn what the consulting physician can teach him about medicine.

   • 2005, Mark A. Abramson, Paul R[oger] Lawrence, “The Biggest Secret in Washington”, in Mark A. Abramson, Paul R. Lawrence, editors, Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees, Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, →ISBN, pages 6–7:

     Many of the appointees who have signed on to stay for the second term have indeed "learned the ropes" and in many cases now know how to work with career civil servants and engage them for maximum productivity.

   • 2013, John Maynard, “Reg ‘Punter’ Hart”, in Aborigines and the ‘Sport of Kings’: Indigenous Jockeys in Australian Racing History, 3rd edition, Canberra, A.C.T.: Aboriginal Studies Press, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, →ISBN, part III (Ahead of the Field: More Indigenous Australian Jockeys), page 128:

     It is still best to keep young riders out in the bush until they have learnt the ropes. Those old bush jockeys, they were men not boys. You learnt the tricks of the trade quick … If you rode two bad races they would crucify you[.]

   • 2014 October 8, Matt Huckle, “Is this Britain’s most inspirational fitness model?”, in The Daily Telegraph‎, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 11 October 2015:

     [Blake] Beckford was diagnosed with a chronic bowel disease that left the lining of his colon covered in ulcers, cutting short any chance of his getting into the fitness industry just when he'd started working towards it. 'I was diagnosed at about 19, so I was still very much learning the ropes,' he says.

2. (informal) To learn some skill requiring specialist knowledge.
   • 2005, “2005–2006 Houston Rockets Season Preview”, in National Basketball Association‎, archived from the original on 1 May 2008:

     While it is unlikely that [Lonny] Baxter plays a significant role immediately, he will be able to learn the ropes of interior play from such veterans as [Dikembe] Mutumbo, Yao [Ming], and [Juwan] Howard.

   • 2008 July 17, Richard Kay, “Kenwright heals his family rift”, in Daily Mail‎, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 4 March 2016:

     Yet for nearly ten years [Bill] Kenwright refused to speak to his nephew after Adam, who learned the ropes of theatre production from his uncle, decided to go it alone.

   • 2009 March 9, “Maria Kanellis: The Greek WWE Diva”, in Greek Reporter‎, archived from the original on 13 July 2017:

     Since her debut in WWE, however, Maria [Kanellis]'s role has expanded by leaps and bounds. At first, she was tentative to step into the ring, but to this day she continues to learn the ropes and develop into an exciting and skilled performer.

   • 2019 September 19, “Saiee Manjrekar’s Bollywood journey: From being a star kid to romancing Salman Khan in ‘Dabangg 3’”, in The Times of India‎, Mumbai, Maharashtra: The Times Group, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 September 2019:

     Going by her photos from the last few months, Saiee [Manjrekar] has come a long way from being the girl next door to quickly learning the ropes of the Bollywood game.

Related terms

• know the ropes
• show someone the ropes / show the ropes

Translations

See also

• cut one's teeth
• get the hang of
• trick of the trade

References

Anagrams

• leatherperson