What it means
This is the friendly act of walking a newbie through the ins and outs of something. You’re pulling back the curtain on how the sausage gets made at a job, in a game, or in any little world with its own secret sauce. It’s all about the warm handover that saves them from stumbling around in the dark.
Usage examples
"I started at the cafe yesterday and Toni’s been showing me the ropes all morning."
"Don’t worry about the till, I’ll show you the ropes when it gets quiet."
"My big brother showed me the ropes of this video game before he let me near his rank."
Where it comes from
Comes straight out of sailing, where a new hand had to literally learn which rope did what. Showing them the ropes was the seasoned sailor’s way of keeping the ship tidy and the deckhands alive. Over time it sailed right off the boat and into any situation where you’re passing down the know-how.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
We look after this expression together
If they say it where you live and something is missing here, bring it. A magikito looks at it and adds it.
- An example
- Your patch
- Your voice