rough up
Britishverb
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informal to treat violently; beat up
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to cause (feathers, hair, etc) to stand up by rubbing against the grain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We've not seen anyone else rough up the Gunners like that this season, and Sunderland were more than a match for them.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
“The skies are a little rough up here,” he remarked with a wry smile, before mentioning that people will think he’s not in good health — but it was really the turbulence causing the problem.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025
The Kraken can then rough up the Arizona Coyotes for the third time in eight days, this time in front of the Coyotes’ own fans.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
Quarterback Justin Herbert’s high throw to Mike Williams hit the wide receiver’s hands, but Baltimore’s Marlon Humphrey — one of the gnarliest corners in this N.F.L. — was on the spot to rough up Williams.
From New York Times ● Oct. 17, 2021
He’d look at me, and he’d laugh and rough up my hair, and then he’d take off his cap and he’d put it on my head.
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
