rope off

Related to rope off: rope up

rope off

To prevent people from entering some place or area by erecting a barrier of rope suspended by a series of poles. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rope" and "off." They don't usually rope the VIP section of the bar off like this—someone really important must be coming in tonight. We'll need to rope off this area until the guests arrive.
See also: off, rope
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rope something off

to isolate something with a rope barrier. The police roped the scene of the accident off. The police roped off the scene of the accident.
See also: off, rope
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

rope off

v.
To restrict or reserve some location or area by encircling it with rope: The ushers roped off the first three rows of seats for special guests. The guards roped the stairway off.
See also: off, rope
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • ask back
  • angle
  • angling
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • rescue from
  • rescue from (someone or something)
  • involve with
  • involve with (someone or something)
  • involved with
  • arrange some music for
References in periodicals archive
"During performances, she has been known to rope off the left side of the photo pit in front of the stage so no one can take a sneaky right shot of her."
STAR'S BARE FACED CHEEK
Clancy - who got his US patent this month - is waiting for investment to get his invisible skipping rope off the ground.
MONEY FOR NO ROPE! Skipping aid that only has handles
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A whale found entangled in rope off the North Wales coast was thought to be the first humpback spotted in the region.
ON THIS DAY ..
Days after Jack Madin drowned in the River Wansbeck in the Riverside Park, by Ashington, a motorbiker, in full view of joggers, cut the rope off a lifebelt and drove off.
Long wait not in vain
The only seats left were right at the front, so manager Joshua Grannell offered to rope off a row of seats for the pair and their security at a later show.
Gimme peace and quiet as the Stones silence church's bells
The tour allows snorkelers to hold a rope off the back of a boat and amongst the giant humpback whales, offering a completely different perspective to watching them from afar.
In an Australian first, Sunreef [...]
A WHALE found entangled in rope off the North Wales coast was last night believed to be the first humpback spotted in the region.
Is this the first humpback to reach N Wales
A 30ft WHALE was swimming to freedom last night after its tail got caught up in a buoy's rope off the North Wales coast.
Trapped whale is freed
But the bat "pinged off", so he picked up a metal pole used to rope off exhibits and decapitated the statue.
MAN WHO BEHEADED THATCHER FACES JAIL