Show Someone the Ropes
Feb 18 2014
Intro
When a sailor is learning his or her job, one responsibility that person must learn is how toadjust the sails on the ship. The sails are large pieces of cloth that use wind to move the ship along, and the sails are made taller or shorter, and moved from side to side with ropes. If a sailor doesn’t understand how the ropes work, bad things can happen. A ship can crash, or worse, become lost in the ocean.
If someone is going to show you the ropes, it means that they are going to show you how to do something. It’s common that a person new on a job will need to learn new tasks and skills, or even where to find things in the office. That’s all part of learning the ropes of a new position. You have to be aware of what’s expected of you and know how to handle your new responsibilities.
Find out who’s all ears and ready to be shown the ropes in today’s English lesson.
If someone is going to show you the ropes, it means that they are going to show you how to do something. It’s common that a person new on a job will need to learn new tasks and skills, or even where to find things in the office. That’s all part of learning the ropes of a new position. You have to be aware of what’s expected of you and know how to handle your new responsibilities.
Find out who’s all ears and ready to be shown the ropes in today’s English lesson.
Dialogue
Amanda: OK. So, I’ve made a list of everything that I do and I’m ready to show you the ropes.
Marni: Great. I’m all ears.
Amanda: First of all, I am the main contact for all of the big investors. If an investor calls, it’s your number one priority.
Marni: OK. Investors are my priority. Got it.
Amanda: Now if there are any technical problems with the website, I don’t need you to fix it, but I need you to be aware of everything that’s going on. OK?
Marni: OK. Know about technical problems.
Amanda: When a client calls, I usually like to handle it, but that’s probably something that Jeff and Lily can help you with.
Marni: OK. Answer client questions.
Amanda: OK. Now behind, these are all of my important files. All right?
Marni: OK.
Amanda: In front, all of the phone numbers and all the email addresses of all of our clients in my computer.
Marni: Files behind desk, important contacts on the computer.
Amanda: OK. Basically, you should kind of be aware of everything that goes on around here. OK? Some of the big investors, they have my cell phone number. And sometimes they call me at home. You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.
Marni: Really? You let them call you at home?
Amanda: Well, only one or two. But you don’t have to do that.
Marni: OK. Good!
Amanda: And you don’t necessarily have to give them your personal email address, or take them to dinner or drinks, nights and weekends.
Marni: Really? You do all of those things?
Amanda: Well, it’s kind of part of the job. It’s how you build a business.
Marni: Amanda, I had no idea how hard you worked. Are you sure I can handle this?
Amanda: Absolutely. Yes. And now that I’ve had a chance to show you the ropes, go ahead and ask me any question you have.
Marni: OK. I guess what I really want to know is will you be staying until the end of the week?
Amanda: I will. Don’t panic. You’ve got this! Feel that?
Marni: Great. I’m all ears.
Amanda: First of all, I am the main contact for all of the big investors. If an investor calls, it’s your number one priority.
Marni: OK. Investors are my priority. Got it.
Amanda: Now if there are any technical problems with the website, I don’t need you to fix it, but I need you to be aware of everything that’s going on. OK?
Marni: OK. Know about technical problems.
Amanda: When a client calls, I usually like to handle it, but that’s probably something that Jeff and Lily can help you with.
Marni: OK. Answer client questions.
Amanda: OK. Now behind, these are all of my important files. All right?
Marni: OK.
Amanda: In front, all of the phone numbers and all the email addresses of all of our clients in my computer.
Marni: Files behind desk, important contacts on the computer.
Amanda: OK. Basically, you should kind of be aware of everything that goes on around here. OK? Some of the big investors, they have my cell phone number. And sometimes they call me at home. You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.
Marni: Really? You let them call you at home?
Amanda: Well, only one or two. But you don’t have to do that.
Marni: OK. Good!
Amanda: And you don’t necessarily have to give them your personal email address, or take them to dinner or drinks, nights and weekends.
Marni: Really? You do all of those things?
Amanda: Well, it’s kind of part of the job. It’s how you build a business.
Marni: Amanda, I had no idea how hard you worked. Are you sure I can handle this?
Amanda: Absolutely. Yes. And now that I’ve had a chance to show you the ropes, go ahead and ask me any question you have.
Marni: OK. I guess what I really want to know is will you be staying until the end of the week?
Amanda: I will. Don’t panic. You’ve got this! Feel that?
Discussion
Amanda is getting ready to let Marni start doing her job. She’s showing Marni where to find everything she’ll need to do Amanda’s job while she’s gone with her new baby. Marni is writing everything down so that she won’t forget. It’s a lot to remember!
As they talk, Marni begins to realize that Amanda’s job is much bigger than she thought it was. Marni will have to know everything that’s going on with the company, as well as keep the investors happy. She didn’t really understand until now that Amanda was working so much, even on the weekends. Marni is starting to wonder if she’s going to be able to handle all of this new responsibility.
Can Marni do Amanda’s job for her? Have you ever had to show someone the ropes of a new job?
As they talk, Marni begins to realize that Amanda’s job is much bigger than she thought it was. Marni will have to know everything that’s going on with the company, as well as keep the investors happy. She didn’t really understand until now that Amanda was working so much, even on the weekends. Marni is starting to wonder if she’s going to be able to handle all of this new responsibility.
Can Marni do Amanda’s job for her? Have you ever had to show someone the ropes of a new job?
Grammar Point
It’s vs. Its
When talking about working on the weekend, Amanda says, “It’s how you build a business.” She uses the contraction it’s.
It’s and its sound alike, but their meanings are quite different. It is not uncommon to confuse the two, but your English will confuse other people if you use the wrong one!
It’s is a contraction for it is (or it has). As an example, “It’s a beautiful day today!”, or, “I think that it’s time to go.” This is a very common contraction to hear in spoken English.
Its is a possessive adjective. It modifies a noun by telling us to whom it belongs. For example, “The cat is washing its paw,” or, “The company hired itsfirst worker.” Other possessive adjectives include my, your, his, her, our, andtheir.
The rule to remember is this: If you mean “It is” or “It has,” use an apostrophe (‘). If not, don’t use the apostrophe.
Which is correct, “It’s my birthday!” or, “Its my birthday!”?
When talking about working on the weekend, Amanda says, “It’s how you build a business.” She uses the contraction it’s.
It’s and its sound alike, but their meanings are quite different. It is not uncommon to confuse the two, but your English will confuse other people if you use the wrong one!
It’s is a contraction for it is (or it has). As an example, “It’s a beautiful day today!”, or, “I think that it’s time to go.” This is a very common contraction to hear in spoken English.
Its is a possessive adjective. It modifies a noun by telling us to whom it belongs. For example, “The cat is washing its paw,” or, “The company hired itsfirst worker.” Other possessive adjectives include my, your, his, her, our, andtheir.
The rule to remember is this: If you mean “It is” or “It has,” use an apostrophe (‘). If not, don’t use the apostrophe.
Which is correct, “It’s my birthday!” or, “Its my birthday!”?
Quiz
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