To rub off

To rub off
Rub Rub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rubbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Rubbing}.] [Probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. rhwbiaw, gael. rub.] 1. To subject (a body) to the action of something moving over its surface with pressure and friction, especially to the action of something moving back and forth; as, to rub the flesh with the hand; to rub wood with sandpaper. [1913 Webster]

It shall be expedient, after that body is cleaned, to rub the body with a coarse linen cloth. --Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]

2. To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground. [1913 Webster]

3. To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface; as, to rub the hand over the body. [1913 Webster]

Two bones rubbed hard against one another. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]

4. To spread a substance thinly over; to smear. [1913 Webster]

The smoothed plank, . . . New rubbed with balm. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; -- often with up or over; as, to rub up silver. [1913 Webster]

The whole business of our redemption is to rub over the defaced copy of the creation. --South. [1913 Webster]

6. To hinder; to cross; to thwart. [R.] [1913 Webster]

'T is the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all the world well knows, Will not be rubbed nor stopped. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{To rub down}. (a) To clean by rubbing; to comb or curry; as, to down a horse. (b) To reduce or remove by rubbing; as, to rub down the rough points.

{To rub off}, to clean anything by rubbing; to separate by friction; as, to rub off rust.

{To rub out}, to remove or separate by friction; to erase; to obliterate; as, to rub out a mark or letter; to rub out a stain.

{To rub up}. (a) To burnish; to polish; to clean. (b) To excite; to awaken; to rouse to action; as, to rub up the memory. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • rub off on someone — rub off (on (someone)) to be learned or obtained without any effort. I like to think that my love of reading will rub off on my children. Usage notes: usually used of a skill, an interest, or a quality …   New idioms dictionary

  • rub off on — rub off (on (someone)) to be learned or obtained without any effort. I like to think that my love of reading will rub off on my children. Usage notes: usually used of a skill, an interest, or a quality …   New idioms dictionary

  • rub off — (on (someone)) to be learned or obtained without any effort. I like to think that my love of reading will rub off on my children. Usage notes: usually used of a skill, an interest, or a quality …   New idioms dictionary

  • rub off — ► rub off be transferred by contact or association. Main Entry: ↑rub …   English terms dictionary

  • rub off on somebody — ˌrub ˈoff (on/onto sb) derived (of personal qualities, behaviour, opinions, etc.) to become part of a person s character as a result of that person spending time with sb who has those qualities, etc • Her sense of fun has rubbed off on her… …   Useful english dictionary

  • rub off onto somebody — ˌrub ˈoff (on/onto sb) derived (of personal qualities, behaviour, opinions, etc.) to become part of a person s character as a result of that person spending time with sb who has those qualities, etc • Her sense of fun has rubbed off on her… …   Useful english dictionary

  • rub off — index deface, obliterate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • rub off — v. 1) (D; intr.) to rub off on, onto (the paint rubbed off on my shirt) 2) (colloq.) (D; intr.) to rub off on, onto ( to affect ) (we hoped that some of these cultural activities would rub off on our children) * * * [ rʌb ɒf] onto (the paint rub… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • rub off — phrasal verb [intransitive] Word forms rub off : present tense I/you/we/they rub off he/she/it rubs off present participle rubbing off past tense rubbed off past participle rubbed off if a quality that someone has rubs off, it starts to affect… …   English dictionary

  • rub off — {v.} 1. To remove or be removed by rubbing; erase. * /The teacher rubs the problem off the chalkboard./ * /After Ann shook hands with the president, she would not shake hands with anyone else because she thought that the good luck would rub off./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rub off — {v.} 1. To remove or be removed by rubbing; erase. * /The teacher rubs the problem off the chalkboard./ * /After Ann shook hands with the president, she would not shake hands with anyone else because she thought that the good luck would rub off./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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