Jason: I just wanted to let you know that if you have any questions, ask Bill. He knows the ropes because he has worked here for thirty years.
Jen: That’s good to know. Thank you.

Jason이 제게 “I just wanted to let you know that if you have any questions, ask Bill. He knows the ropes because he has worked here for thirty years. 일하면서 궁금한 게 생기면 빌한테 물어봐. 여기서 30년 동안 일했기 때문에 업무에 관해 잘 알아.” 라고 하자 제가 “That’s good to know. Thank you. 알려줘서 고마워.” 라고 했습니다.

Now keep today’s expression ‘know the ropes’ in mind and let’s hear the conversation again. 그럼 다시 한번 대화를 들어볼까요?

Jason: I just wanted to let you know that if you have any questions, ask Bill. He knows the ropes because he has worked here for thirty years.
Jen: That’s good to know. Thank you.

Today’s expression is know the ropes. Americans use this idiom in business and personal conversations. 미국인들이 사업상 대화나 일상 회화에서 잘 쓰는 표현입니다. If you know the ropes, you know how to do something or how to get something done.

You know about a certain situation or how a job works. 단어 know 는 ‘알다’ 라는 뜻이고 rope는 ‘밧줄’ 이죠. 그런데 rope가 복수로 바뀌고, 앞에 정관사 the 가 붙은 형태인 “the ropes”가 되면 방법, 요령, 비결이라는 뜻이 됩니다. 따라서 know the ropes 하면 ”무엇에 대해 잘 안다, 일이 돌아가는 걸 알고 있다, 요령을 알다.”라는 의미가 되는 거죠.

This idiom probably comes from sailing. To be a good sailor, one must know how to tie and use the ropes and sails. If you are good at something, you can say you know the ropes. Know the ropes는 항해와 관련된 표현입니다. 훌륭한 선원이 되려면 로프와 돛 사용법을 잘 알아야 되겠죠. 바로 여기서 나온 말입니다.

오늘 본문에서 Jason이 제게 궁금한 점은 빌에게 물어보라고 말해줍니다. “He knows the ropes because he has worked here for thirty years.” 30년을 근무했기 때문에 업무에 관해서 잘 안다고 하면서요. 자, 이제 예문을 통해 know the ropes가 어떻게 활용이 되는 지 알아보겠습니다.

“I know the ropes pretty well. I’ve been doing this for a long time.” 라고 하면 “워낙 오래한 일이라 아주 훤히 알아.” 라는 뜻입니다. Now you know what today’s expression ‘know the ropes’ means right? Then let's listen to the conversation for the last time.

Jason: I just wanted to let you know that if you have any questions, ask Bill. He knows the ropes because he has worked here for thirty years.
Jen: That’s good to know. Thank you.

Let’s review. If you know the ropes, you know how to do something or how to get something done. KNOW THE ROPES. Now try using this expression on your own.