# rub down

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rub-down
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To rub from top to bottom, e.g. for cleaning, stripping paint or massage.

## Examples

- Please rub down the table before we eat.
- The carpenter needs to rub down the old wooden chair before applying a fresh coat of paint.
- After the long race, the trainer helped the athlete rub down his tired muscles to improve circulation and reduce soreness.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.