🗓️ Idiom: Learn the Ropes
💬 Meaning
- To learn how to do a particular job or task, especially one that is new or unfamiliar.
- It refers to the process of becoming familiar with the basics or procedures of a role or organization.
🧠 Example Sentences
- It took her a few weeks to learn the ropes, but now she’s managing the team confidently.
- The intern is still learning the ropes, so please be patient with him.
- New employees usually need some time to learn the ropes before they can work independently.
🏛️ Origin
The phrase comes from the days of sailing ships, where sailors had to learn how to handle the many ropes used to control the sails. Over time, it became a metaphor for learning how to do any new task or job.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
During his first month at the company, he focused on __________ the ropes.
Answer
learning
2. Choose the correct meaning of “learn the ropes”:
A) To invent new procedures
B) To learn how to do something new
C) To take over someone else’s job
Answer
B) To learn how to do something new
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“She’s becoming familiar with how everything works in her new job.” → Change the sentence using: learn the ropes
Answer
She’s learning the ropes in her new job.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
👉 HR and Recruitment Idioms
👉 Business English Idioms List
👉 Student Space
👉 Tutor Toolkit
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