Cheap as old rope

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on October 24, 2005

In Reply to: Cheap as old rope posted by Lesley on October 24, 2005

: Does anyone know the origin of "Cheap as old rope"?
I haven't heard that precise phrase, but to get "money for old rope" means to get paid for doing or providing very little. The point is simply that second-hand rope may be more worn than it looks and its performance under strain can never be relied on. So when selling it (for example when selling off second-hand ship supplies) you would not expect to get much for it.

• Cheap as old rope ESC 24/October/05