📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 to be very poor, stupid, etc.
📒 to keep reminding somebody in an unkind way of their past mistakes
📒 to make a difficult experience even more difficult for 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.
📒 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.