He's a sailor who knows his ropes, literally and figuratively.
In the phrase “know your ropes,” the word “ropes” is being used figuratively.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
fig´ur|a|tive|ly — fig|ur|a|tive «FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. 1. using words out of their literal meaning to add beauty or force. Many words are indicated in their figurative sense in this dictionary by labeling the meaning or the sentence Figurative. SYNONYM(S) … Useful english dictionary
fig|ur|a|tive — «FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. 1. using words out of their literal meaning to add beauty or force. Many words are indicated in their figurative sense in this dictionary by labeling the meaning or the sentence Figurative. SYNONYM(S): metaphorical … Useful english dictionary
fig´ur|a|tive|ness — fig|ur|a|tive «FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. 1. using words out of their literal meaning to add beauty or force. Many words are indicated in their figurative sense in this dictionary by labeling the meaning or the sentence Figurative. SYNONYM(S) … Useful english dictionary
fig·u·ra·tive — /ˈfıgjərətıv/ adj 1 of words, language, etc. : used with a meaning that is different from the basic meaning and that expresses an idea in an interesting way by using language that usually describes something else : not literal The phrase “know… … Useful english dictionary
pre|fig´ur|a|tive|ness — pre|fig|ur|a|tive «pree FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. 1. showing by previous figures, types, or similarity. 2. Anthropology. of or designating a form of society in which the values of the younger generation predominate. –pre|fig´ur|a|tive|ly,… … Useful english dictionary
pre|fig´ur|a|tive|ly — pre|fig|ur|a|tive «pree FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. 1. showing by previous figures, types, or similarity. 2. Anthropology. of or designating a form of society in which the values of the younger generation predominate. –pre|fig´ur|a|tive|ly,… … Useful english dictionary
pre|fig|ur|a|tive — «pree FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. 1. showing by previous figures, types, or similarity. 2. Anthropology. of or designating a form of society in which the values of the younger generation predominate. –pre|fig´ur|a|tive|ly, adverb.… … Useful english dictionary
co|fig|ur|a|tive — «koh FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. Anthropology. of or designating a form of society in which each generation or peer group evolves its own values (contrasted with postfigurative, prefigurative) … Useful english dictionary
con|fig|u|ra|tive — «kuhn FIHG yuh RAY tihv, yuhr uh », adjective. = configurational. (Cf. ↑configurational) … Useful english dictionary
non|fig|u|ra|tive — «non FIHG yuhr uh tihv», adjective. 1. (in art) using unrecognizable figures or symbols; not objective: »The recent emphasis on extreme abstraction the nonobjective or nonfigurative art which has proved so controversial in the last few years (New … Useful english dictionary
