Learn The Ropes Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

This database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available. American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time. .

learn the ropes What does learn the ropes mean?	learn how to do a job	He is a new employee and is still learning the ropes.
learn the ropes What does learn the ropes mean?	to learn how to do a job	The man is a new employee and is still learning the ropes.
	Some Random Idioms
dog meat What does "dog meat" mean?	dead person (usually made in threat form)

Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted What does "Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted" mean?	If someone takes action too late, they do this; there is no reason to lock an empty stable.
have bigger fish to fry What does "have bigger fish to fry" mean?	to have other more important things to do	I have bigger fish to fry and I do not want to spend every evening doing extra work for my company.
Plain sailing What does "Plain sailing" mean?	If something is relatively easy and there are no problems doing it, it is plain sailing.
receive/welcome (someone) with open arms What does "receive/welcome (someone) with open arms" mean?	to greet someone eagerly	The citizens received the Olympic athletes with open arms.
try (someone's) patience What does "try (someone's) patience" mean?	to do something annoying that may cause someone to lose patience	The constant complaints of the customers are beginning to try the clerk's patience.
take the law into one's own hands What does "take the law into one's own hands" mean?	to act as a judge and jury for someone who has done something wrong	The soldiers took the law into their own hands when they entered the town.

family jewels What does "family jewels" mean?	testicles.	Careful with the family jewels.
wolf down (something) What does "wolf down (something)" mean?	to gulp down something, to eat something quickly	I wolfed down my dinner and left the house for the movie.
with one hand tied behind one's back What does "with one hand tied behind one's back" mean?	easily, even under a severe handicap	The project was hard to manage because I had to operate with one hand tied behind my back.
out in the cold What does "out in the cold" mean?	to be alone, to not be included	I was out in the cold after the class went to the movie without me.

American Idioms and Expressions

Learn The Ropes Idiom