rub someone up Definition

rub
verb rubbed, rubbing

1. To apply pressure and friction to something by moving one's hand or an object backwards and forwards over its surface.

Thesaurus: stroke, massage, caress, knead.
intr
2. To move backwards and forwards against, on or along it with pressure and friction.

Form: rub against something (usually)
Form: rub on something
Form: rub along something
3. To apply (ointment, polish, etc) to a surface with pressure so that it is evenly spread, absorbed, etc.

Form: rub something on something else (usually)
Form: rub something into something else
4. To clean something or polish, dry, smooth it, etc by applying pressure and friction.

Thesaurus: clean, scrub, polish, shine, smooth, knead.
tr & intr
5. To remove it or be removed by pressure and friction.

Form: rub something away, off, out (often)
tr & intr
6. To be sore or make something sore by pressure and friction; to chafe.

Thesaurus: abrade, chafe, irritate, inflame, grate, rasp.
tr & intr
7. To fray by pressure and friction.
intr
8. bowls.
Said of a bowl: to be slowed down or deflected by unevenness in the green, an obstacle, etc.

noun

1. The process or an act of rubbing.

Thesaurus: stroke, touch, friction, wipe.
2. An obstacle or difficulty.

Example: It will cost a lot and there's the rub
Thesaurus: difficulty, problem, dilemma, impediment, obstacle, hindrance, drawback, catch, hitch, snag, predicament, frustration.
3. bowls.
Something that slows down or deflects a bowl.

Derivative: rubber

See separate entries.

Derivative: rubbing

Application of friction.

An impression or copy made by placing paper over a raised surface and rubbing the paper with crayon, wax, chalk, etc. See also frottage (sense 1).
Example: a brass rubbing

Idiom: rub shoulders

To come into social contact.

Idiom: rub someone's nose in it

To persist in reminding someone of a fault or mistake they have made.

Idiom: rub someone up the wrong way

To annoy or irritate them, especially by dealing with them carelessly or tactlessly.
Thesaurus: irritate, anger, annoy, peeve, irk, needle, bug, vex, get to (slang), get (slang), get under one's skin (slang); Antonym: placate, appease.

Etymology: 14c.

Phrasal Verb: rub along

To manage to cope, make progress, etc without any particular difficulties.

Phrasal Verb: rub along with someone

To be on more or less friendly terms with them.

Phrasal Verb: rub something down

To rub (one's body, a horse, etc) briskly from head to foot, eg to dry it.To prepare (a surface) to receive new paint or varnish by rubbing the old paint or varnish off.To become or make something smooth by rubbing.

Phrasal Verb: rub something in

To apply (ointment, etc) by rubbing.To mix (fat) into flour by rubbing one's fingertips together in the mixture.To insist on talking about or emphasizing (an embarrassing fact or circumstance).

Phrasal Verb: rub off on someone

To have an effect on or be passed to someone by close association.
Example: Some of his bad habits have rubbed off on you

Phrasal Verb: rub someone out

To murder them.

Phrasal Verb: rub something out

To remove it by rubbing, especially with an eraser.

Phrasal Verb: rub someone up

To rub against someone in an attempt to excite them or oneself sexually.

Phrasal Verb: rub something up

To polish it.To refresh one's memory or knowledge of it.