Skip to main content
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

learn the ropes 

the process of finding one's feet, learning the basics, for example in a new job
"Hey, how's that new job going?"
"Fabulous, now that I've learned the ropes I can take on more demanding tasks!"

"I want you to learn the ropes before you start doing anything more sophisticated!"
learn the ropes by justice22 April 7, 2012

on the ropes 

When a team or someone is frightened and may be eventually beaten.
The heavily favored Cowboys were on the ropes as they trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter.
on the ropes by Whose your daddy September 28, 2013

Show them the ropes 

1. To orient a person who is new to your group/neighborhood/city/and such to the rules and modes of operation of the aforementioned.

2. To rough up someone that is in - or against - your group, as a punishment for going against the creed/rules/modus operandi of your particular group (re-orienting them, as it were).
1. "Terry, since you're new to Humboldt, allow me to show you the ropes."

2. "They ratted on David. That's not our style. So we're gonna show them the ropes."
Show them the ropes by Kent Weirdo November 28, 2005

Show them the ropes 

of opera origin, many back stage ropes control curtains and other theater devices.
I needed to show them the ropes before they could work backstage.
Show them the ropes by tracy volney December 28, 2005

Throw up the ropes 

When you see/hear in the news that some low life scumbag(s) has committed a serious crime worthy of a public lynching and the retard court judge gives him/her only a slap on the wrist and sends them on their merry way back into society to commit even more crime.
Cop #1: Did you see that? The scumbag I arrested who robbed and bashed that poor old lady got only a warning and told not to do it again.
Cop #2: Friggin hell, throw up the ropes!
Throw up the ropes by Barnaby Joyce February 14, 2018

learn the ropes" before "tying the knot

In other words, "practice yer milking-skills" before ya "buy da cow".
Hey, you wouldn't purchase a car without taking it for a test-drive first, so why should da subject of marriage be any different?! There are lots of good reasons to "learn the ropes" before "tying the knot", and there's many an unhappy couple to prove it!
More from Urban Dictionary

briefcake 

"Did you check out the briefcake in courtroom C?"
briefcake by Ben Frey April 6, 2006
Word of the Day on November 3, 2026
Brought to public attention by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the book on the fall of Richard Nixon, All The President’s Men, ratfucker was Nixon’s term for a political operative who sows chaos among opponents; an agent provocateur. It is thought to have originated among campus political rivalries at USC, and seems to have some usage in the US military.
Along with Nixon’s other ratfuckers, Roger Stone caused fights at otherwise peaceful Democratic Party protests to generate a false narrative that the Democrats were violent and dangerous.
Ratfucker by Ricky Ramjet November 2, 2017
Word of the Day on November 2, 2026

countrypolitan 

Term used to describe someone who is a mix of both rural (country) and urban (metropolitan) lifestyles/upbringings. He/she is typically equally comfortable in both settings and is able to seamlessly slip back and forth between the two, appreciating the characteristics of each.
That ol' gal of mine drives the 12 lane freeway during the week and a John Deere on the weekends. She likes opra and the Grand Ol' Opry. I love them countrypolitan women.
countrypolitan by MOChick November 7, 2006
Word of the Day on November 1, 2026

Witch Bath 

A bath consisting of a variety of slats, oils, soaps or any other added ingredients such as fruits, milks, herbs or any other spices for health or beautifying benifits.
She brought home alot of stuff and took it to the bathroom. She must be taking a witch bath.
Witch Bath by carnieboy30 October 26, 2020
Word of the Day on October 31, 2026

kinktober 

An excuse for people to write porn with different types of kinks throughout the month of October.

Smut Fanfiction
That chick doesn't write often but when she does, its for Kinktober.
kinktober by Kinkiest July 12, 2018
Word of the Day on October 30, 2026

proper lad 

a lad that is such a lad that he is a proper lad
person1:did you see bob
person2: ya he was a proper lad
Word of the Day on October 29, 2026
Load more