rub
to subject the surface of (a thing or person) to pressure and friction, as in cleaning, smoothing, polishing, coating, massaging, or soothing: to rub a table top with wax polish; to rub the entire back area.
to move (something) back and forth or with a rotary motion, as against or along another surface: to rub the cloth over the glass pane.
to spread or apply (something) with pressure and friction over something else or a person: to rub lotion on her chapped hands.
to move (two things) with pressure and friction over or back and forth over each other (often followed by together): He rubbed his hands together.
to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, or into).
to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off or out).
to exert pressure and friction on something.
to move with pressure against something.
to admit of being rubbed in a specified manner: Chalk rubs off easily.
Chiefly British. to proceed, continue in a course, or keep going with effort or difficulty (usually followed by on, along, or through): He manages to rub along.
an act or instance of rubbing: an alcohol rub.
something that annoys or irritates one's feelings, as a sharp criticism, a sarcastic remark, or the like: to resent rubs concerning one's character.
an annoying experience or circumstance.
an obstacle, impediment, or difficulty: We'd like to travel, but the rub is that we have no money.
a rough or abraded area caused by rubbing.
rub down,
to smooth off, polish, or apply a coating to: to rub a chair down with sandpaper.
to give a massage to.
rub off on, to become transferred or communicated to by example or association: Some of his good luck must have rubbed off on me.
rub out,
to obliterate; erase.
Slang. to murder: They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.
Idioms about rub
rub it in, Informal. to emphasize or reiterate something unpleasant in order to tease or annoy: The situation was embarrassing enough without having you rub it in.
rub salt in / into someone's wounds. salt1 (def. 23).
rub the wrong way, to irritate; offend; annoy: a manner that seemed to rub everyone the wrong way.
rub up, British Informal. to refresh one's memory of (a subject, language, etc.).
Origin of rub
1Other words for rub
Other words from rub
- un·rubbed, adjective
- well-rubbed, adjective
Words Nearby rub
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use rub in a sentence
You’ll need a good shoulder rub after setting up a large massage chair.
Best massage chair: Take relaxation to a new level right in your living room | Irena Collaku | August 13, 2021 | Popular-ScienceThat’s the rub because when you have these large companies spending millions and millions of dollars on performance and then they try to add a brand layer, they have no way of connecting the dots and it doesn’t make sense to them.
I might use granulated garlic in stir-fry or a rub for meat that I’m going to grill where I want the garlic to hold up to the cooking process a little bit longer, or I want a little bit of more distinctive garlic flavor.
How and when to use garlic powder, a reliable seasoning that deserves respect | Aaron Hutcherson | June 25, 2021 | Washington PostHowever, the standards have yet to be finalized by GARM, and therein lies the rub.
Why Facebook actually has not agreed to everything MRC requires in its brand safety audit | Kate Kaye | June 8, 2021 | DigidayThe report claimed that he gave unsolicited back rubs, asked colleagues on dates, and at one point poured a beer on the head of a coworker during a social event.
NY Times Outcasts Bari Weiss and Andy Mills Teaming Up for New Podcast Venture | Maxwell Tani, Lachlan Cartwright | April 23, 2021 | The Daily Beast
rub the loin with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Make Carla Hall’s Roasted Pork Loin With Cranberries | Carla Hall | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTrub pork loin with paprika, Cajun seasoning, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Epic Meal Empire’s Meat Monstrosities: From the Bacon Spider to the Cinnabattleship | Harley Morenstein | July 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe rub is that these devices have been in short supply lately.
Maybe the cleric can rub his own magic lamp, and ask it to explain the concept known as brain drain.
When you get a new one they tell you to put coco-butter on your fingers and rub it a lot so it won't show so much.
And, old ink pot, tuck a horse blanket under my chin, and rub me down with brickbats while I feed!
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousOthers again put the varnish on and rub it off in places to resemble the wear of age.
Violins and Violin Makers | Joseph PearceBut indeed, it was useless to rub her eyes, the dwarfs did not vanish, and so she was obliged to believe that they were real.
Honey-Bee | Anatole FranceShe would put her paws on his shoulders, and rub his face, and purr in a most contented manner.
The Nursery, January 1873, Vol. XIII. | VariousIf he were to rub one of these pictures when dry, he would find it almost entirely removable from the glass.
British Dictionary definitions for rub
/ (rʌb) /
to apply pressure and friction to (something) with a circular or backward and forward motion
to move (something) with pressure along, over, or against (a surface)
to chafe or fray
(tr) to bring into a certain condition by rubbing: rub it clean
(tr) to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbed: he rubbed ointment into his back
(tr) to mix (fat) into flour with the fingertips, as in making pastry
(foll by off, out, away, etc) to remove or be removed by rubbing
bowls (of a bowl) to be slowed or deflected by an uneven patch on the green
(tr often foll by together) to move against each other with pressure and friction (esp in the phrases rub one's hands, often a sign of glee, anticipation, or satisfaction, and rub noses, a greeting among Inuit people)
rub someone's nose in it informal to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error
rub up the wrong way to arouse anger (in); annoy
rub shoulders with or rub elbows with informal to mix with socially or associate with
the act of rubbing
the rub an obstacle or difficulty (esp in the phrase there's the rub)
something that hurts the feelings or annoys; rebuke
bowls an uneven patch in the green
any roughness or unevenness of surface
golf an incident of accidental interference with the ball
informal a piece of good or bad luck
Origin of rub
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with rub
In addition to the idioms beginning with rub
- rub down
- rub elbows with
- rub in
- rub off on
- rub one's hands
- rub out
- rub someone's nose in it
- rub the wrong way
- rub up on
also see:
- the rub
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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