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rub the wrong way

 - 5 dictionary results

rub

  [ruhb] ,verb, rubbed, rub⋅bing, noun
Use rub the wrong way in a Sentence
–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 fol. by together): He rubbed his hands together.
5. to mark, polish, force, move, etc. (something) by pressure and friction (often fol. by over, in, or into).
6. to remove by pressure and friction; erase (often fol. 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 fol. by on, along, or through): He manages to rub along.
–noun
11. 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.
—Verb phrases
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. rub out,
a. to obliterate; erase.
b. Slang. to murder: They rubbed him out before he could get to the police.
—Idioms
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. rub up, British Informal. to refresh one's memory of (a subject, language, etc.).
Origin:
1300–50; 1860–65 for def. 18b; ME rubben (v.); c. Fris rubben, Dan rubbe, Sw rubba

Synonyms:
14. hitch, catch, thing, trouble, pinch.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rub the wrong way
Word Origin & History

rub  (v.)
1377, 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 recorded 1586 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 1567; underworld slang sense of "kill" is recorded from 1848, Amer.Eng. Rub off "have an influence on" is recorded from 1959.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: rub
Pronunciation: 'r&b
Function: noun
1 : the application of friction with pressure rub>
2 : a sound heard in auscultation that is produced by the friction of one structure moving against another
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

rub (rŭb)
n.

  1. The application of friction and pressure.

  2. 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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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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