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rope off


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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rope /roʊp/USA pronunciation   n., v., roped, rop•ing. 
n. 
  1. a strong, thick line or cord, made of twisted strands of hemp: [uncountable]a ladder made of rope.[countable]used ropes to mark off the area.
  2. [countable] a lasso.
  3. ropes, [plural]
    • Informal Termsthe operations of a business:to learn the ropes at your new job.
  4. Jewelry, Informal Terms[countable][Slang.]a thick, heavy gold chain worn as jewelry.

v. 
  1. [~ + object] to tie or fasten with a rope.
  2. to enclose or mark off with a rope: [~ + off + object]to rope off the reserved seats.[~ + object + off]to rope the seats off.
  3. to catch with a lasso;
    lasso:[~ + object]roping cattle.
  4. Informal Terms rope in, to lure or persuade to do something, esp. by trickery: [~ + object + in]The boss roped a few of us in to stay late.[~ + in + object]The boss roped in a few workers to stay late.
Idioms
  1. at the end of one's rope, at the end of one's patience, strength, or will to go on.
  2. Idioms on the ropes, close to defeat, failure, or collapse:The team had their opponents on the ropes for most of the game.


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
rope  (rōp),USA pronunciation n., v., roped, rop•ing. 
n. 
  1. a strong, thick line or cord, commonly one composed of twisted or braided strands of hemp, flax, or the like, or of wire or other material.
  2. a lasso.
  3. ropes:
    • the cords used to enclose a prize ring or other space.
    • Informal Termsthe operations of a business or the details of any undertaking:The new employee didn't take long to learn the ropes.
  4. a hangman's noose, halter, or cord.
  5. the sentence or punishment of death by hanging.
  6. a quantity of material or a number of things twisted or strung together in the form of a cord:a rope of tobacco.
  7. a stringy, viscid, or glutinous formation in a liquid:ropes of slime.
  8. at the end of one's rope, at the end of one's endurance or means;
    at the limit:With all her savings gone and bills piling up, she was at the end of her rope.
  9. give someone enough rope, to allow a person complete freedom to continue his or her misdeeds in hope that retribution will follow.
  10. on the ropes:
    • [Boxing.]in a defenseless position, as leaning against the ropes to keep from falling.
    • Informal Termsin a desperate or hopeless position;
      close to defeat or failure:By repeatedly undercutting his prices, his competitors soon had him on the ropes.

v.t. 
  1. to tie, bind, or fasten with a rope.
  2. to enclose, partition, or mark off with a rope or ropes (often fol. by off).
  3. to catch with a lasso;
    lasso.
  4. Nautical, Naval Termsto reinforce (a sail or awning) with a boltrope.

v.i. 
  1. to be drawn out into a filament of thread;
    become ropy.
  2. Informal Terms rope in, to lure or entice, esp. by employing deception:The swindler had roped in a number of gullible persons.
  • bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English rop(e), rap(e), Old English rāp; cognate with Dutch reep, German Reif; (verb, verbal) Middle English, derivative of the noun, nominal
rop′er, n. 
rope′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rope / rəʊp/
  1. a fairly thick cord made of twisted and intertwined hemp or other fibres or of wire or other strong material
  2. (as modifier): a rope bridge, a rope ladder
  3. a row of objects fastened or united to form a line: a rope of pearls, a rope of onions
  4. a quantity of material twisted or wound in the form of a cord
  5. anything in the form of a filament or strand, esp something viscous or glutinous: a rope of slime
  6. the rope ⇒ a rope, noose, or halter used for hanging
  7. death by hanging, strangling, etc
  8. give someone enough rope to hang himself or herself ⇒ to allow someone to accomplish his or her own downfall by his or her own foolish acts
  9. know the ropes ⇒ to have a thorough understanding of a particular sphere of activity
  10. on the ropes ⇒ driven against the ropes enclosing the ring by an opponent's attack
  11. in a defenceless or hopeless position
  12. show someone the ropes ⇒ to show someone how to do a job or task
  1. (transitive) to bind or fasten with or as if with a rope
  2. (transitive) usually followed by off: to enclose or divide by means of a rope
  3. when intr, followed by up: to tie (climbers) together with a rope
Etymology: Old English rāp; related to Old Saxon rēp, Old High German reif
'rope off' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
belay

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