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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from Low German rubben |
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rub1 S3
past tense and past participle rubbed, present participle rubbing
past tense and past participle rubbed, present participle rubbing1 [intransitive and transitive] to move your hand, or something such as a cloth, backwards and forwards over a surface while pressing firmly [↪ stroke] 
You'll have to rub harder if you want to get it clean.I hurriedly rubbed myself dry.
You'll have to rub harder if you want to get it clean.I hurriedly rubbed myself dry.2 [intransitive and transitive] to make something press against something else and move it around
3 [intransitive and transitive] if shoes, clothes, or parts of a machine rub, they move around while pressing against another surface, often causing pain or damage : Badly fitting shoes are bound to rub. The skin under my sock was rubbed raw (=the skin had come off).
Badly fitting shoes are bound to rub.The skin under my sock was rubbed raw (=the skin had come off).4 [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put a substance into or onto a surface by pressing it and moving it about with your fingers or something such as a cloth : Can you rub some sun cream on my back for me?
Can you rub some sun cream on my back for me?5 to meet and spend time with people, especially rich and famous people : As a reporter he gets to rub shoulders with all the big names in politics.
rub shoulders with somebody
informal also rub elbows with somebody American EnglishAs a reporter he gets to rub shoulders with all the big names in politics.7 to annoy someone by the things you say or do, usually without intending to
rub somebody up the wrong way
British English informal rub somebody the wrong way American English informal8 to be pleased because something has happened which gives you an advantage, especially because something bad has happened to someone else
be rubbing your hands
informal9 to keep reminding someone about something they did wrong or failed to do, especially in order to punish them
rub somebody's nose in it/in the dirt
informal10 to not have any money
not have two pennies/halfpennies/beans to rub together
British English old-fashionedrub along
phrasal verbWe rub along well most of the time. rub along with/together By and large the Poles and Germans of the city had shown that they could rub along together.
By and large the Poles and Germans of the city had shown that they could rub along together.rub something/somebody ↔ down
phrasal verb1 to make a surface smooth by rubbing it with sandpaper : That door needs rubbing down before you paint it.
That door needs rubbing down before you paint it.2 to dry a person or animal by rubbing them with a cloth, towel etc : The groom rubbed down the horses.
The groom rubbed down the horses.3 to massage someone, especially after exercise
rub something ↔ in
phrasal verbWas he trying to rub in the fact that he didn't think much of me?rub off
phrasal verb1 to remove something from a surface by rubbing it, or to come off a surface because of being rubbed Some of the gold paint had begun to rub off.
Some of the gold paint had begun to rub off.2 if a feeling, quality, or habit rubs off on you, you start to have it because you are with another person who has it
rub something/somebody ↔ out
phrasal verb1 British English to remove writing, a picture etc from a surface by rubbing it with a piece of rubber, a cloth etc [= erase]: Draw the outline lightly with a soft pencil. This can be rubbed out later.
Draw the outline lightly with a soft pencil. This can be rubbed out later.2 American English old-fashioned informalSCC to murder someone
