DAILY VOCABULARY WITH PICTURES (rope).

• rope
• 1 [uncountable and countable] very strong thick string, made by twisting together many thinner strings:
• They tied a rope around my waist and pulled me up.
• The man was coiling a length of rope.
• 
• 2

  the ropes

  [plural]
• a) all the things someone needs to know to do a job or deal with a system:
• I spent the first month just learning the ropes.
• He works repairing streets, and knows the ropes when it comes to safety.
• Miss McGinley will show you the ropes and answer any questions.
• b) the rope fence that surrounds an area used for boxing or wrestling
• 3

  be on the ropes

  informal to be in a very bad situation, in which you are likely to be defeated:
• The army says the rebels are on the ropes.
• 4

  be at/near etc the end of your rope

  especially American English to have no more patience or strength left to deal with a problem or a difficult situation:
• My son is causing endless problems, and I'm close to the end of my rope.
• 5

  give somebody some/enough etc rope

   to give someone a lot of freedom to do something in the way they want to do it:
• Managers have to decide how much rope to give their subordinates.
• 6

  give somebody enough rope to hang themselves

   to give someone freedom to do what they want to do, because you think they will cause problems for themselves and you want them to look stupid
• 7

  a rope of pearls

   pearls on a string, worn around your neck as jewellery
• ➔ jump rope, skipping rope, tightrope, towrope

  ➔ money for old rope

  at money (17)

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.