Showing the Ropes
Tell her to show you the ropes; she has been sailing for years and can teach you the basics.
My dad taught me to play baseball. He showed me the ropes back when I was a kid.
To "Show the ropes" means...
To teach or introduce someone to either a general topic or a specific activity or skill.
In this expression: ropes = basic methods, or the way something is done.
Someone "learning the ropes" is being taught the basics.
Someone who "knows the ropes" is familiar or experienced - and could "show the ropes" to someone else!
Examples of Usage
You might need to be shown the ropes in the following situations:
A new job
Thankfully, my co-worker showed me the ropes until I got comfortable enough at my new position.
A new sport
My dad showed me the ropes of baseball when I was a kid.
Dating
I couldn't get a date until my older brother showed me the ropes.
Camping
We have a friend who loves going camping. She showed all of us the ropes on our summer trip!
History
The phrase "know the ropes" might be a sailor expression, used to describe the necessary basics for sailing – rope and knot tying. For a sailor to "learn the ropes", he becomes familiar with the different methods for tying secure knots, and when to pull which rope on the sailboat, in order to sail well.
