show someone the ropes

English

Etymology

Derived from sailing ships. The nautical term meaning to teach a complete novice which ropes, or sheets, lead to or support which parts of the ship's structure.

Verb

show someone the ropes (third-person singular simple present shows someone the ropes, present participle showing someone the ropes, simple past showed someone the ropes, past participle shown someone the ropes)

  1. To explain the fundamentals of something to someone.
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