ropes
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The ways of London lower life. "To know the ROPES," is to be conversant with the minutiæ of metropolitan dodges, as regards both the streets and the sporting world.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “ropes” mean?
The ways of London lower life. "To know the ROPES," is to be conversant with the minutiæ of metropolitan dodges, as regards both the streets and the sporting world.
Is “ropes” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.