rope (redirected from ropes)

be at the end of your tether (British, American & Australian, American)

to be so tired, worried, or annoyed by something that you feel unable to deal with it any more. After a day with four screaming kids I'm at the end of my tether. He's out of work, hanging around the house all day and at the end of his rope.

See also: end, tether

be money for old rope (British, informal, British, informal)

if a job is money for old rope, it is an easy way of earning money. Babysitting is money for old rope if the children go to sleep early. Most people think being a professional footballer is money for jam.

See also: money, old

be on the ropes (mainly American)

to be doing badly and likely to fail. His political career is on the ropes.

give someone enough rope (to hang themselves)

to allow someone to do what they want to, knowing that they will probably fail or get into trouble. I let him speak on, knowing that he would offend the director, and gave him just enough rope.

See also: enough, give

Go piss up a rope! (American, taboo)

a very impolite way of telling someone to go away. Oh go piss up a rope! I'm sick of your complaining.

See also: piss

know the ropes

show someone the ropes - to explain to someone how to do a job or activity. She's been in this job long enough to know the ropes.

See also: know

reach the end of your tether (British, American & Australian, American)

be at the end of your tether - to be so tired, worried, or annoyed by something that you feel unable to deal with it any more. She finally reached the end of her tether and told him exactly what she thought of his behaviour.

See also: end, reach, tether

show someone the ropes

to explain to someone how to do a job or activity. The new secretary started today so I spent most of the morning showing her the ropes.

See also: show

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learn the ropes

to understand how to do a particular job or activity. It'll take some time for the new receptionist to learn the ropes.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the forms know the ropes to understand how something is done and show someone the ropes or teach someone the ropes to teach someone how something is done: You'd better find someone to show you the ropes if you're going to fix the car yourself.

See also: learn

on the ropes

doing badly and likely to fail. His political career is on the ropes.

Etymology: from the idea of a weakened prize fighter who leans against the ropes that surround the boxing ring

rope in someone/something

to persuade a person or group to do something. They're running ads that they hope will rope in the undecided voters. Once they're interested in the product, we try to rope them in and sell it to them.

Usage notes: also used in the form rope someone into doing something: He roped me into helping him clean up the yard.

show someone the ropes

learn the ropes

See also: show