Taking, therefore, the title of the post, the term

I often hear expressions such as the one that gives the title to the article, rope bridge and I always wonder what depends this or that way of saying, what is the story behind that exact expression.
Taking, therefore, the title of the post, the term "water to the ropes or strings", now in disuse, is sometimes used to emphasize the importance of courage and presence of mind in dealing with a difficult problem, rope bridge despite the risk of heavy consequences. In other cases, it would be a sort of cry of alarm given by those who are aware of a sudden emergency and invites you to find a remedy. The phrase implies the need to act.
The work was entrusted to the Ticino Domenico Fontana but presented several difficulties, the obelisk weighed 350 tons and was 25 meters high, and Fontana had to make numerous calculations and use scaffolding and pulleys! Were hired to work 800 men and 140 horses! On 10 September 1586 the obelisk rope bridge was to be raised; Given the difficulty of the operation was circulated among the crowd and laborers order to maintain absolute silence on pain of death: for the occasion were in fact present even the Executioner and the gallows to immediately perform the sentence!
Bresca was immediately arrested, but Sixtus V as a reward for the presence of mind and the courage shown instead rope bridge of punishment gave him wide privileges, a full pension and the right to hoist the papal flag on his ship.
As we have seen just a typical expression of our language hides a story that could even be told as bedtime rope bridge story, and allows us to fully understand the meaning of the same!