rope

rope — noun

1. a thick, strong cord made by twisting together fibers, threads, or thin pieces o

1.nounA2
Definition

a thick, strong cord made by twisting together fibers, threads, or thin pieces of wire — used for pulling, tying, lifting, or holding things in place

Example

The climber checked the rope carefully before starting her climb up the cliff.

collocation: climbing rope

Hassan tied the boat to the dock with a thick nylon rope.

Common collocations
  • thick rope
  • long rope
  • strong rope
  • nylon rope
  • climbing rope
  • jump rope
  • a coil of rope
  • a length of rope
  • a piece of rope
Synonyms
  • cord

    thinner than rope, often used for electrical items or curtains

  • cable

    very thick and strong, often made of metal wires; used for bridges, ships, or power lines

  • line

    a general term for any thin cord or rope, used in specific contexts like fishing or clotheslines

Grammar Patterns

a rope

a piece/length of rope

some rope

Usage Note

As an uncountable noun, rope refers to the material itself ('a coil of rope'), not a specific piece ('a rope'). Many compound nouns are formed with 'rope': climbing rope, jump rope, tug-of-war rope.

Common Mistakes

He tied it with a string' (when the object needs to be very secure).
He tied it with a rope.
Rope is much thicker and stronger than string.

2. several objects of the same type, such as pearls or beads, held together on a si

2.nounB2
Definition

several objects of the same type, such as pearls or beads, held together on a single thread or string

Example

Aunt Hui wore a beautiful rope of pearls around her neck at the wedding dinner.

collocation: a rope of pearls

The museum displayed a rope of ancient glass beads from the Han dynasty.

Common collocations
  • rope of pearls
  • rope of beads
  • rope of garlic
  • rope of onions
Synonyms
  • string

    more general; a 'string of pearls' means the same as 'rope of pearls', but 'string' is more common for small items

  • strand

    a single thin line of items, especially pearls or beads, as in 'a strand of pearls'

Grammar Patterns

a rope of + [plural noun]

Usage Note

This sense is nearly always followed by 'of' specifying the type of object. It describes objects that have been intentionally threaded or tied together in a row, most commonly ornamental items (pearls, beads) or produce (garlic, onions, peppers).

Common Mistakes

She wore a rope of gold chain.
She wore a gold chain.
A metal chain is not a 'rope'; use 'rope' only for items threaded or tied on a string.

3. one of the thick ropes that creates the fence-like boundary around a square figh

3.nounB1
Definition

one of the thick ropes that creates the fence-like boundary around a square fighting area used in boxing and wrestling matches

Example

The boxer leaned against the ropes to catch his breath between rounds.

collocation: against the ropes

Walid climbed through the ropes and stepped into the wrestling ring.

Common collocations
  • the ropes
  • against the ropes
  • between the ropes
  • through the ropes
  • top rope
  • bottom rope

Grammar Patterns

the ropes

against the ropes

between the ropes

Usage Note

Usually used in the plural form 'the ropes' because a boxing ring has three or four ropes. The idiom 'on the ropes' — meaning close to defeat — developed from this sense in boxing.

Common Mistakes

The boxer was pushed to the rope.
The boxer was pushed against the ropes.
In boxing, the ropes form a set, so the plural form is standard.
Idioms

know the ropes / learn the ropes / show someone the ropes

idiom

to understand or learn how a particular job, activity, or system works, especially when starting something new

Eitan had never worked in a kitchen before, so the head chef showed him the ropes on his first day.

It took Lara about two weeks to learn the ropes at the new office, but now she handles everything smoothly.

on the ropes

idiom

in a very difficult situation and close to failing, losing, or being defeated

After three years of losses, the small company was on the ropes and needed a quick rescue plan.

The team went down by twenty points in the first half and was on the ropes for the rest of the game.

be at the end of your rope

idiom

to feel so tired, worried, or upset by a difficult situation that you no longer have the patience or energy to deal with it

After months of sleepless nights with a crying baby, Romi was at the end of her rope and asked her mother for help.

The teacher was at the end of his rope with the noisy class and called the principal.

give someone enough rope (to hang themselves)

idiom

to let someone continue doing something wrong or foolish, hoping or expecting that they will eventually fail or get themselves into trouble because of their own actions

The manager suspected the employee of stealing but gave him enough rope to see what he would do next.

money for old rope

idiom

money that is earned very easily, with little effort or skill

For a skilled carpenter, fixing a loose chair leg is money for old rope — the job takes ten minutes.

give somebody enough rope

idiom

To let someone act freely, hoping they will make a mistake or reveal their true nature.

The manager gave the intern enough rope, and he soon made a big error.

Why did you give him enough rope? He will only cause trouble.

money for jam/old rope

idiom

Money earned very easily with little effort.

Babysitting my neighbor's quiet kids was money for old rope.

Is this job really money for jam, or is there more work involved?

show somebody/know/learn the ropes

idiom

To teach or learn the basic skills needed for a job or activity.

Sara showed the new assistant the ropes on her first day.

It took me a week to learn the ropes of the cash register.

rope — verb

Word family

  • roped
    adjectiveB2
  • ropey
    adjectiveC1
  • roping
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all refer to thin, flexible materials used for tying or fastening, but they differ in thickness, material, and typical use. 'Rope' is the thickest among everyday tying materials — made of twisted fibers, used for heavy jobs like climbing, boating, or towing. 'Cord' is thinner than rope and usually made of twisted cotton, nylon, or similar fibers; you see it on lamps, blinds, and small appliances. 'String' is much thinner and lighter, typically used for tying packages, threading beads, or securing light objects. 'Cable' is the thickest of all, often made of metal wires, and is used for supporting bridges, transmitting electricity, or connecting computers. 'Line' is a general-purpose term for any long, thin cord or rope used in a specific activity, such as a fishing line, clothesline, or anchor line. For everyday household use, 'rope' implies heavy-duty strength, while 'string' is your go-to for light tasks. For example, you would use rope to pull a car out of a ditch, but string to tie a gift box.

cord ↗string ↗cable ↗linewire ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a length of rope
  • a piece of rope
  • the end of the rope
  • a coil of rope

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'rope' comes from Old English 'rāp', which meant a strong cord made of twisted fibers. This word goes back even further to the Proto-Germanic '*raipaz', a term shared by many Germanic languages — Old Norse had 'reip', Dutch 'reep', and German 'Reif' (which originally meant 'hoop'). The Germanic root may come from an even older Indo-European word '*reip-', meaning 'to bend' or 'to turn', reflecting the twisting or turning motion used to make rope. Despite more than a thousand years of use, the word's core meaning has stayed almost exactly the same.