Rub
verb
To move one thing back and forth or around while touching it against something else.
She rubbed her eyes when she woke up in the morning.
Often appears as...
- rub your eyes
- rub together
noun
A problem or difficulty.
The rub of the matter is that we don’t have enough money for this project.
verb
To cause to disappear by rubbing, apply with a circular motion.
Let’s rub off the dust from the table.
Often appears as...
- rub off
- rub out
verb
To hurt someone’s feelings or upset someone.
His arrogant attitude really rubs me the wrong way.
Often appears as...
- rubs me the wrong way
- rubbed up the wrong way
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To spread a substance onto a surface while moving your hand or a tool back and forth.
Rub the lotion into your skin.
Often appears as...
- rub in
- rub onto
verb
To move one thing back and forth or around while touching it against something else.
She rubbed her eyes when she woke up in the morning.
Often appears as...
- rub your eyes
- rub together
noun
A problem or difficulty.
The rub of the matter is that we don’t have enough money for this project.
verb
To cause to disappear by rubbing, apply with a circular motion.
Let’s rub off the dust from the table.
Often appears as...
- rub off
- rub out
verb
To hurt someone’s feelings or upset someone.
His arrogant attitude really rubs me the wrong way.
Often appears as...
- rubs me the wrong way
- rubbed up the wrong way
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To spread a substance onto a surface while moving your hand or a tool back and forth.
Rub the lotion into your skin.
Often appears as...
- rub in
- rub onto
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action
Used for actions where there is direct physical contact, often involving friction.
He rubbed the balloon on his hair to create static electricity.
Pro Tip 2/3Convey Warmth
Indicates actions to generate warmth by moving hands on one's body or another's.
She rubbed her hands together briskly to fight off the cold.
Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Use
Sometimes 'rub' is used metaphorically to describe a situation causing irritation.
His constant lateness is starting to rub.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action
Used for actions where there is direct physical contact, often involving friction.
He rubbed the balloon on his hair to create static electricity.
Pro Tip 2/3Convey Warmth
Indicates actions to generate warmth by moving hands on one's body or another's.
She rubbed her hands together briskly to fight off the cold.
Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Use
Sometimes 'rub' is used metaphorically to describe a situation causing irritation.
His constant lateness is starting to rub.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action
Used for actions where there is direct physical contact, often involving friction.
He rubbed the balloon on his hair to create static electricity.
Pro Tip 2/3Convey Warmth
Indicates actions to generate warmth by moving hands on one's body or another's.
She rubbed her hands together briskly to fight off the cold.
Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Use
Sometimes 'rub' is used metaphorically to describe a situation causing irritation.
His constant lateness is starting to rub.
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Video examples
How to create a space...
what I sink right to the bottom of the suit so I'm practicing and practicing because I have to get it perfect for spaceflight but my shoulders and my muscles are rubbing on that side bearing it's just a fancy word and spacesuit design for the shoulder bearing so how can we alleviate that with our great designers love of my life my partner
Video examples
This could be why you're...
not to talk about how miserable you are, but to figure out something meaningful you can all do together so you won't be lonely and you won't feel like life is pointless." The first time this group met, Lisa literally started vomiting with anxiety, it was so overwhelming for her. But people rubbed her back, the group started talking,
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
caught one or two each year but they didn't value them highly their flesh wasn't particularly tasty they said and only their huge rough scales were useful excellent for rubbing down the inner tubes of bicycles before mending a puncture but to the scientists the sealer camp was a paramount interest but it seems certain that fish
Video examples
Why do we have to wear...
because their ability to absorb the Sun diminishes. Generally, these are more transparent when rubbed on the skin, but some people develop allergric reactions to some of the chemicals. Regardless of the type of sunscreen, all are subjected to testing to determine their sunburn protection factor,
Video examples
Chimps have feelings and...
a judge will not order it forced upon you, because they will respect your self-determination and your autonomy. Now, an equality right is the kind of right to which you're entitled because you resemble someone else in a relevant way, and there's the rub, relevant way.
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
focus of our project was to examine the individual relationships that the Wolves had with one another and it was here that the more subtle signs of pact unity revealed themselves rarely to two wolves pass each other without rubbing
Video examples
The science of...
So what's happening is that as skis move, they rub the surface of the snow and warm it up, creating a thin layer of water, which helps them slide along. So technically, it's not really snow skiing, but water skiing.
Video examples
The Intense 8 Hour Hunt...
And at the moment of death, he shared its pain. He rubs its saliva into his own legs to relieve the agony of his burning muscles. And he gives thanks for the life he has taken,
Video examples
Boogie at an Animal...
As they rub, each leaves an individual and recognisable scent. So the tree soon carries a list of who's around, which might help individuals to avoid a fight.
Video examples
Bears Dancing in the...
as they rub each leaves an individual and recognizable scent so the tree soon carries a list of who's around which might help individuals to avoid a fight
Video examples
How to create a space...
what I sink right to the bottom of the suit so I'm practicing and practicing because I have to get it perfect for spaceflight but my shoulders and my muscles are rubbing on that side bearing it's just a fancy word and spacesuit design for the shoulder bearing so how can we alleviate that with our great designers love of my life my partner
Video examples
This could be why you're...
not to talk about how miserable you are, but to figure out something meaningful you can all do together so you won't be lonely and you won't feel like life is pointless." The first time this group met, Lisa literally started vomiting with anxiety, it was so overwhelming for her. But people rubbed her back, the group started talking,
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
caught one or two each year but they didn't value them highly their flesh wasn't particularly tasty they said and only their huge rough scales were useful excellent for rubbing down the inner tubes of bicycles before mending a puncture but to the scientists the sealer camp was a paramount interest but it seems certain that fish
Video examples
Why do we have to wear...
because their ability to absorb the Sun diminishes. Generally, these are more transparent when rubbed on the skin, but some people develop allergric reactions to some of the chemicals. Regardless of the type of sunscreen, all are subjected to testing to determine their sunburn protection factor,
Video examples
Chimps have feelings and...
a judge will not order it forced upon you, because they will respect your self-determination and your autonomy. Now, an equality right is the kind of right to which you're entitled because you resemble someone else in a relevant way, and there's the rub, relevant way.
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
focus of our project was to examine the individual relationships that the Wolves had with one another and it was here that the more subtle signs of pact unity revealed themselves rarely to two wolves pass each other without rubbing
Video examples
The science of...
So what's happening is that as skis move, they rub the surface of the snow and warm it up, creating a thin layer of water, which helps them slide along. So technically, it's not really snow skiing, but water skiing.
Video examples
The Intense 8 Hour Hunt...
And at the moment of death, he shared its pain. He rubs its saliva into his own legs to relieve the agony of his burning muscles. And he gives thanks for the life he has taken,
Video examples
Boogie at an Animal...
As they rub, each leaves an individual and recognisable scent. So the tree soon carries a list of who's around, which might help individuals to avoid a fight.
Video examples
Bears Dancing in the...
as they rub each leaves an individual and recognizable scent so the tree soon carries a list of who's around which might help individuals to avoid a fight
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Hugh Jackman
Australian Actor
Acting is something I love. It's a great craft that I have a lot of respect for. But I don't think it's any greater challenge than teaching 8-year-olds or any other career. In my life, I try not to make it more important than it is and I just hope that rubs off on the people around me.
Quote examples
Danny Carey
American Musician
We're dealing with the chaos of life, and we're rubbing it down. The deeper you rub, the more patterns you can see until you realize that it's really an organized chaos. There isn't really ever any chance to understand it all, but we're here to keep rubbing.
Quote examples
Bronte Campbell
Australian Athlete
When we were very, very young, I was actually better than Cate was at swimming, and I was not very humble and thought I was the greatest thing ever and rubbed it in her face a bit, and then she started trying really hard and started beating me.
Quote examples
Alan Arkin
American Actor
If you're playing a negative character, sooner or later it rubs off on you. Some people don't mind living in that state, but I don't want to be there anymore. I don't want to live in a state of depression.
Quote examples
Chris Crutcher
American Novelist
The value of a story like 'Deadline' is kids get to look at death at the perfect distance. They can put the book down. They can experience the story, rub up against it, but it's not real life.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Artists complain about the art world until it starts rubbing their back, then they have their love affair with it.
Quote examples
Steph Houghton
English Athlete
My mum was very determined and motivated and always wanted the best for us. That rubs off on you.
Quote examples
Joe Wicks
British Author
I'm just trying to use my happiness and motivation to rub off on other people around me.
Quote examples
Phoebe Dynevor
English Actress
In real life my mum was always a dungaree wearer, which probably rubbed off on me a lot.
Quote examples
Essie Davis
Australian Actress
I think every character rubs off on you a little bit.
Quote examples
Hugh Jackman
Australian Actor
Acting is something I love. It's a great craft that I have a lot of respect for. But I don't think it's any greater challenge than teaching 8-year-olds or any other career. In my life, I try not to make it more important than it is and I just hope that rubs off on the people around me.
Quote examples
Danny Carey
American Musician
We're dealing with the chaos of life, and we're rubbing it down. The deeper you rub, the more patterns you can see until you realize that it's really an organized chaos. There isn't really ever any chance to understand it all, but we're here to keep rubbing.
Quote examples
Bronte Campbell
Australian Athlete
When we were very, very young, I was actually better than Cate was at swimming, and I was not very humble and thought I was the greatest thing ever and rubbed it in her face a bit, and then she started trying really hard and started beating me.
Quote examples
Alan Arkin
American Actor
If you're playing a negative character, sooner or later it rubs off on you. Some people don't mind living in that state, but I don't want to be there anymore. I don't want to live in a state of depression.
Quote examples
Chris Crutcher
American Novelist
The value of a story like 'Deadline' is kids get to look at death at the perfect distance. They can put the book down. They can experience the story, rub up against it, but it's not real life.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Artists complain about the art world until it starts rubbing their back, then they have their love affair with it.
Quote examples
Steph Houghton
English Athlete
My mum was very determined and motivated and always wanted the best for us. That rubs off on you.
Quote examples
Joe Wicks
British Author
I'm just trying to use my happiness and motivation to rub off on other people around me.
Quote examples
Phoebe Dynevor
English Actress
In real life my mum was always a dungaree wearer, which probably rubbed off on me a lot.
Quote examples
Essie Davis
Australian Actress
I think every character rubs off on you a little bit.
Example 1 of 10
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