Learning the Ropes - Your Native English Teacher's Idiom of the Week

Your Native English Teacher's idiom of the week:

Learning the ropes.

I think this is a very relevant idiom as we are all beginners at some point.

Learning the ropes is a nautical term, from the days of sailing ships. Back then, new recruits had to learn how to tie knots and which rope hauled up which sail. After which of course they would know the ropes.


These days, we use this expression in a more general sense when referring to learning something new.

Example: I've been training for two weeks at work, trying to learn the ropes, before the lady I'm replacing leaves.

It's raining cats and dogs is another great idiom.