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Glite Dictionary
to rope down

to rope down

1 7.2
To go down a steep cliff using a rope
  • phrasal verb
  • Jargon
translation icon : rapelar
  • Send rope down quick.

They landed with a helicopter, sort of roped down and took control of the ship.

Examples

  • We're going to throw a rope down.

    The Ledge (2022)

  • Wouldn't he at least post guards at the top to prevent exactly what happens when Wayne escapes and throws a rope down to let the other prisoners escape?

    Blog text (23)

  • I'm gonna throw you some rope down.

    Africa Screams (1949)

  • Okay, why don't you walk up through the walls or whatever and then just throw us a rope down?

    Thunderbolts* (2025)

  • They landed with a helicopter, sort of roped down and took control of the ship.

    Meet Kevin

  • You can chopper in at wave-top height, then suddenly flare above the platform, fast-rope down, and swarm the bad guys.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The climbers decided to rope down the cliff after reaching the summit to avoid the dangerous route.

  • For safety, the team used harnesses while they roped down the steep rock face with precision.

  • Before the sun set, they carefully roped down the side of the canyon to return to base camp.

Synonyms

to rappel
vsto rope down
  • Specialized
7 8.9

To slide down a rope while controlling your speed

is a phrasal expression naming the same action rather than a single technical word
to abseil
vsto rope down
  • UK
1 8.5

To go down a steep cliff or wall using a rope

is a general phrasal term for the same descent without technical detail

Antonyms

to climb up
127 1.0

To move up using hands and feet, often with effort

to ascend
54 4.0

To move upward to a higher place, for example up a hill or into the sky

Surface Forms

rope down infinitive
roped down past
roped down past participle
roping down present participle
ropes down third person singular

Morphology

rope + down

The meaning 'to descend using a rope' follows directly from 'rope' (the instrument) combined with 'down' (movement to a lower level); the action is transparently instrumental + directional. This compositional pattern is common in English and in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would very likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

The verb rope down comes from climbers and rescue teams who lower themselves from a high place using a rope. They attach a strong rope and go down the rock, so the phrase now means 'to descend by a rope' or 'to rappel'.