knowing the ropes

ADJECTIVE

capable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

able accomplished adept adequate competent efficient experienced gifted good intelligent proficient qualified skillful suited talented

WEAK

adapted apt au fait clever dynamite fireball fitted green thumb has what it takes having know-how having the goods having the right stuff knowing the score like a one-man band like a pistol masterly old hand old-timer on the ball proper there up up to it up to snuff up to speed veteran

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clumsy green ignorant inadequate incapable incompetent ineffective inefficient inept inexperienced powerless stupid unable unintelligent unqualified unskilled unsuitable untalented useless weak

WEAK

impotent unskillful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There’s far more to bell-ringing than knowing the ropes.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 12, 2017

Not knowing the ropes, we engaged a carriage at 100 piastres to take us from the city out to the plateau.

From In Pastures New by Ade, George

I teased her about knowing the ropes, yet giving me a difficult time.

From Humanistic Nursing by Paterson, Josephine G.