learn the ropes

/ˌlɜːn ðə ˈrəʊps/NEUTRAL · C2

Meaning

to learn how a job is done

Examples

1Aisha spent her first fortnight shadowing the team to learn the ropes.
2Nobody expects you to learn the ropes in a single afternoon.
3It took Ben a month to learn the ropes at the garden centre.
4The new apprentices are still learning the ropes, so check their measurements.
5How long did it take you to learn the ropes in your last job?

Grammar

Only learn changes form. Keep ropes plural and the definite article the fixed. know the ropes is the same image for someone who has already learnt.

Similar in meaning

hit the ground running get your foot in the door

More idioms about work and careers

All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →

pull your weightto do your fair share of the work snowed underhaving far too much work to deal with go the extra mileto make more effort than people expect get the sackto be dismissed from your job cut cornersto save time or money at the expense of quality burn the midnight oilto work very late into the night

English Idioms

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