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rub
[ruhb]
verb (used with object)
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 bytogether ).
He rubbed his hands together.
to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, orinto ).
to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off orout ).
verb (used without object)
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, orthrough ).
He manages to rub along.
noun
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.
verb phrase
rub down
to smooth off, polish, or apply a coating to.
to rub a chair down with sandpaper.
to give a massage to.
rub out
to obliterate; erase.
Slang., to murder.
They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.
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
/ rʌb /
verb
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
to remove or be removed by rubbing
bowls (of a bowl) to be slowed or deflected by an uneven patch on the green
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)
informal, to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error
to arouse anger (in); annoy
informal, to mix with socially or associate with
noun
the act of rubbing
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
Other Word Forms
- unrubbed adjective
- well-rubbed adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of rub1
Word History and Origins
Origin of rub1
Idioms and Phrases
rub up, to refresh one's memory of (a subject, language, etc.).
rub salt in / into someone's wounds. salt.
rub it in, to emphasize or reiterate something unpleasant in order to tease or annoy.
The situation was embarrassing enough without having you rub it in.
rub the wrong way, to irritate; offend; annoy.
a manner that seemed to rub everyone the wrong way.
More idioms and phrases containing rub
Example Sentences
Lily and Annabel shared their names with Johnson’s biological daughters, while Angelina and Orlando were a nod to the kind of celebrities she sometimes rubbed shoulders with at charity galas.
Tesla needs to repair the damage the brand took from Musk’s foray into politics, which rubbed many electric vehicle buyers the wrong way.
In one message, she said: "I remember you came to my room before the abduction, rubbed my head and said 'I love you and I will find you'."
"He did rub people up the wrong way and grabbed a lot of headlines," he adds.
“His play style rubs off on everybody on our team, not just the offense,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from 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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