rub
verb /rʌb/
/rʌb/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they rub | /rʌb/ /rʌb/ |
| he / she / it rubs | /rʌbz/ /rʌbz/ |
| past simple rubbed | /rʌbd/ /rʌbd/ |
| past participle rubbed | /rʌbd/ /rʌbd/ |
| -ing form rubbing | /ˈrʌbɪŋ/ /ˈrʌbɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to move your hand, a cloth, etc., backwards and forwards over a surface while pressing it
- rub something He sat up on the hard bunk and rubbed his eyes.
- She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
- rub something + adv./prep. He rubbed a hand wearily over his eyes.
- rub something/yourself with something Rub the surface with sandpaper before painting.
- rub something/yourself against something The cat rubbed itself against my legs.
- rub at something I rubbed at the stain on the cloth.
- rub against something Animals had been rubbing against the trees.
- rub something/yourself + adj. Rub the surface smooth.
- She rubbed her hair dry quickly with a towel.
- rub + noun I rubbed a clear patch on the window with my fingers.
Extra Examples- He gently rubbed his swollen nose.
- I rubbed my glasses with my handkerchief.
- She rubbed her hands on her apron.
- She stood up, rubbing at her back.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- hard
- vigorously
- well
- …
- begin to
- against
- at
- into
- …
- [transitive, intransitive] to press two surfaces against each other and move them backwards and forwards; to be pressed together and move in this way
- rub something She rubbed her hands in delight.
- In some cultures, people traditionally greet each other by rubbing noses.
- rub something together She rubbed her hands together in effort to warm them.
- He made a fire by rubbing sticks together.
- rub together It sounded like two pieces of wood rubbing together.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- hard
- vigorously
- well
- …
- begin to
- against
- at
- into
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] (of a surface) to move backwards and forwards many times against something while pressing it, especially causing pain or damage
- The back of my shoe is rubbing.
- rub on/against something The wheel is rubbing on the mudguard.
- Their perpetually wet clothes rubbed against their skin.
- rub something (+ adj.) The horse's neck was rubbed raw (= until the skin came off) where the rope had been.
- [transitive] to spread a liquid or other substance over a surface while pressing it
- rub something into/onto something She rubbed the lotion into her skin.
- rub something on/over something Rub salt over the fish before cooking.
- rub something in Put a little cream onto each hand and rub it in well.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- hard
- vigorously
- well
- …
- begin to
- against
- at
- into
- …
More Like This Consonant-doubling verbsConsonant-doubling verbs- bob
- club
- dub
- grab
- rub
- sob
- throb
- kid
- nod
- pad
- plod
- prod
- shred
- skid
- thud
- beg
- blog
- bug
- drag
- drug
- flag
- hug
- jog
- log
- mug
- nag
- plug
- bar
- confer
- infer
- occur
- prefer
- refer
- star
- stir
- transfer
- acquit
- admit
- allot
- chat
- clot
- commit
- jut
- knit
- pat
- regret
- rot
- spot
- submit
- appal
- cancel
- channel
- control
- counsel
- enrol
- equal
- excel
- fuel
- fulfil
- label
- level
- marvel
- model
- pedal
- quarrel
- signal
- travel
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): perhaps from Low German rubben, of unknown ultimate origin. The noun dates from the late 16th cent.
Idioms
not have two cents, pennies, brain cells, etc. to rub together
- (informal) to be very poor, stupid, etc.
rub somebody’s nose in it
- (informal) to keep reminding somebody in an unkind way of their past mistakes
rub salt into the wound | rub salt into somebody’s wounds
- to make a difficult experience even more difficult for somebody
rub shoulders with somebody
(North American English also rub elbows with somebody)
- to meet and spend time with a famous person, socially or as part of your job
- He’s rubbing shoulders with stars all the time.
- She had been rubbing elbows with celebrities.
rub somebody up the wrong way (British English)
(North American English rub somebody the wrong way)
- (informal) to make somebody annoyed or angry, often without intending to, by doing or saying something that offends them
- She tends to rub people up the wrong way.