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(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Grammar Videos
(ordered by category) Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
Know the Ropes (Origin)
What Is the Origin of the Saying "Know the Ropes"?
The term "know the ropes" means to understand the details.Table of Contents
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Examples of Use:
- Victor knows the ropes. He's worked here for 15 years.
- He's been installing bathrooms for years. I think he knows the ropes around a sink.
- I think you'll enjoy this game once you know the ropes.
Competing Theory
The term "know the ropes" originates from the theatre where stagehands were required to know which ropes to pull to raise curtains and move stage scenery.Previous and Next Sayings
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