Learn the ropes

[Bassim]

I have tried to use "learn the ropes" in my sentence. Would you please correct my mistakes?

The company sent John Thompson, a mechanic, to BMW to learn the ropes of the new BMW model.

 

[probus]

I wouldn't​ say your sentence is wrong, but you have used the idiom to refer to a more specific situation than usual. The idiom is usually used in more general situations.

For example, when you take up a new job, you must learn the ropes of your new firm. Or when you move from one line of work to another, you need to learn the ropes of your new occupation. President Donald Trump has no prior experience in government, so he is now learning the ropes of Washington D.C.

To reiterate, your BMW example is a little more specific than what the idiom is applied to.

 

[Phaedrus]

probus:

President Donald Trump has no prior experience in government, so he is now learning the ropes of Washington D.C.

Nice.

Bassim:

The company sent John Thompson, a mechanic, to BMW to learn the ropes of the new BMW model.

I think the idiom "ins and outs (of)" would fit better in that context:

The company sent him there to learn the ins and outs of the new model.