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verb (used with object)
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
to spread or apply (something) with pressure and friction over something else or a person: to rub lotion on her chapped hands.
4.
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.
5.
EXPANDto mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often followed by over, in, or into).
6.
COLLAPSEto remove by pressure and friction; erase (often followed by off or out).
verb (used without object)
7.
to exert pressure and friction on something.
8.
to move with pressure against something.
9.
to admit of being rubbed in a specified manner: Chalk rubs off easily.
10.
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.
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Rub the wrong way
is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
noun
Verb phrases11.
an act or instance of rubbing: an alcohol rub.
12.
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.
13.
an annoying experience or circumstance.
14.
an obstacle, impediment, or difficulty: We'd like to travel, but the rub is that we have no money.
15.
a rough or abraded area caused by rubbing.
16.
rub down,
a.
to smooth off, polish, or apply a coating to: to rub a chair down with sandpaper.
b.
to give a massage to.
17.
rub off on, to become transferred or communicated to by example or association: Some of his good luck must have rubbed off on me.
18.
Idiomsrub out,
a.
to obliterate; erase.
b.
Slang. to murder: They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.
19.
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.
20.
rub the wrong way, to irritate; offend; annoy: a manner that seemed to rub everyone the wrong way.
21.
Origin:
1300–50; 1860–65 for def. 18b; Middle English rubben (v.); cognate with Frisian rubben, Danish rubbe, Swedish rubba
1300–50; 1860–65 for def. 18b; Middle English rubben (v.); cognate with Frisian rubben, Danish rubbe, Swedish rubba
Related forms
un·rubbed, adjective
well-rubbed, adjective
Synonyms
14. hitch, catch, thing, trouble, pinch.
14. hitch, catch, thing, trouble, pinch.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To rub the wrong way
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
rub
late 14c., perhaps related to E.Fris. rubben "to scratch, rub," and Low Ger. rubbeling "rough, uneven," or similar words in Scandinavian (cf. Dan. rubbe "to rub, scrub," Norw. rubba), of uncertain origin. Hamlet's there's the rub (1602) preserves a noun sense of "obstacle, inequality on ground" first
EXPANDrecorded 1580s and common in 17c. To rub (someone) the wrong way is from 1883. To rub noses in greeting as a sign of friendship (attested from 1822) formerly was common among Eskimos, Maoris, and some other Pacific Islanders. Rub out "obliterate" is from 1560s; underworld slang sense of "kill" is recorded from 1848, Amer.Eng. Rub off "have an influence on" is recorded from 1959.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
rub (rŭb)
n.
The application of friction and pressure.
Such a procedure applied to the body.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
rub the wrong way
Irritate, annoy, as in His remarks about welfare rubbed a great many people the wrong way. This idiom alludes to rubbing an animal's fur in the wrong direction. [Mid-1800s] Also see ruffle someone's feathers.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Idioms & Phrases
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