Learn The Ropes
By allen0187
@allen0187 (58444)
Philippines
April 21, 2021 4:05am CST
'Learn the ropes' is actually a nautical term. Back in the day when a seaman is new, he will have 'know the ropes' written in his discharge meaning he only has basic knowledge on how to operate a ship. Another possible source of the phrase is that sailing ships then had to use a lot of ropes and knots. So when a seaman, is learning how and for what each rope is for, he is said to be 'learning the ropes'. Common usage of the phrase means to learn how things work and how things get done.
Of course, in life, we continue to learn the ropes in everyday life lest we be tangled and roped in. Pun intended.
The reason I thought about this was because I was going through old photos and saw little me as a Boy Scout with my knot badge. Good memories.
20 people like this
17 responses
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
21 Apr 21
I think you are referring to rappelling. Did that back in the day. Rappelled down the side of the building and mountains.
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
21 Apr 21
I had been in N.C.C. ( National cadet corps) naval unit for five years. 3 in school as junior cadet and 2 in college as senior one. We were thought various types of knots, I can only remember clove hitch now. It was a fun then to be sea man in training. I even visited a warship.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
21 Apr 21
I bet the visit to a warship was memorable.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
22 Apr 21
@msdivkar wow!
Sounds like a really bad punishment was waiting for you guys.
1 person likes this
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
22 Apr 21
@allen0187 It was and worst was the horrible punishment we had to face on return to the camp on getting missed on the boat. I can never forget that.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
26 Apr 21
Do you remember your Girl Scout days?
1 person likes this
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
26 Apr 21
@allen0187 not much. Just marching, charity and learning a few stuff. Ropes included.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86765)
• United States
29 Apr 21
I love anything natuical as my Dad was a merchant marine.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
1 May 21
That is good to know. Thanks for sharing. I bet you have a lot of wonderful memories with your dad at sea.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129482)
• Israel
22 Apr 21
@allen0187
So does big you still remember all the ropes and how to do them?
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
25 Apr 21
@Hannihar nice to know hoe to properly knot a rope. You never know when you need that skill.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
22 Apr 21
Not anymore. I could knot a tie. Not sure if it counts.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129482)
• Israel
23 Apr 21
@allen0187
Not everyone can knot a tie. That is impressive. Do you need to know how to do the ropes? If not, then doesn't matter if you remember how to do them.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169983)
• United States
22 Apr 21
Interesting to know how that term came about.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
21 Apr 21
Learn the ropes. When I first heard this in my grade school days, I thought we are going to study different kinds of ropes.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
1 May 21
For sure they have retained some of it.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
1 May 21
Correct!
You have a good day yourself.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (27219)
• Philippines
22 Apr 21
Great memories! Thank you for sharing!
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
21 Apr 21
What a nice memory. I had those days too. 
1 person likes this
@Belexhanns (3431)
• Kampala, Uganda
21 Apr 21
Old memories are good, they help you depict your current situation, anyway gone are those days
1 person likes this
