Know the Ropes (Origin)

What Is the Origin of the "Know the Ropes"?

home▸sitemap▸sayings & proverbs ▸know the ropes

The term "know the ropes" means to understand the details. Know the Ropes (Origin)

How Do You Say "Know the Ropes"?

Know the Ropes

Voice Selection

The following voices are available on your browser.

Sorry. No voices have loaded. Try a different browser or refreshing the page.

More 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.

"Know the ropes" originates from the days of sailing ships when sailors were required to understand which ropes to operate and how to tie various knots. It came into common use as a metaphor for "to understand the details" as early as the 1840s (evidence).

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.