to give a beating to, manhandle, or subject to physical violence (often followed by up): The mob roughed up the speaker.
31.
to subject to some rough, preliminary process of working or preparation (often followed by down, off, or out): to rough off boards.
32.
to sketch roughly or in outline (often followed by in or out): to rough out a diagram; to rough in the conversation of a novel.
33.
Sports. to subject (a player on the opposing team) to unnecessary physical abuse, as in blocking or tackling: The team was penalized 15 yards for roughing the kicker.
verb (used without object)
34.
to become rough, as a surface.
35.
to behave roughly.
Idioms
36.
in the rough, in a rough, crude, or unfinished state: The country has an exciting potential, but civilization there is still in the rough.
37.
rough it, to live without the customary comforts or conveniences; endure rugged conditions: We really roughed it on our fishing trip.
Origin: before 1000; Middle English (adj. and noun); Old English rūh (adj.); cognate with Dutch ruig,German rauh
late 15c., from rough (adj.). Phrase rough it (1768) is originally nautical; to rough (someone) up is from 1868. The U.S. football penalty roughing was originally a term from boxing (1866).