# rub

/ˈɹəb/ (US) · /ɹˈʌb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rub
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to apply friction

verb · CEFR A2

to move your hand or a cloth back and forth over a surface while pressing down.

For teachers: to move an object or hand across a surface with pressure and friction. Often used transitively with a direct object.

- He had to rub his hands together to stay warm in the cold wind.
- The therapist began to rub the patient's lower back to alleviate the muscle tension caused by hours of sedentary office work.

### 2. to spread a substance

verb · CEFR B1

to put a cream, oil, or liquid onto a surface by pressing and moving your hand.

For teachers: to apply a substance to a surface through the use of pressure and circular or linear motion.

- You should rub some sun cream on your shoulders before going outside.
- The woodworker carefully rubbed a layer of beeswax into the mahogany table to bring out the natural grain of the timber.

### 3. the act of rubbing

noun · CEFR B1

the action of moving your hand or a cloth over something.

For teachers: an instance of applying friction or pressure to a surface.

- Give the table a quick rub with this cloth to get the dust off.
- A vigorous rub with a dry towel is often enough to restore the shine to slightly tarnished silverware.

### 4. a problem or difficulty

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a problem or a tricky part of a situation.

For teachers: a central difficulty or obstacle in a situation; famously used in the idiomatic phrase 'there's the rub'.

- The plan sounds perfect, but here is the rub: we have no money.
- The proposal offers a sustainable solution to the energy crisis, but the rub lies in the massive initial investment required from taxpayers.

Usage: Usually appears in the singular, often following 'the'.

Teaching tip: This sense is most famous from Shakespeare's Hamlet; it is used in modern English to point out a specific, hidden problem in a plan.

### 5. cooking spices

noun · CEFR B2

a mixture of spices that you press into meat before cooking it.

For teachers: a dry or wet mixture of seasonings applied to the surface of raw food, especially meat, before grilling or roasting.

- He prepared a spicy rub for the chicken before putting it on the barbecue.
- The chef applied a coffee-based dry rub to the brisket, allowing the flavours to penetrate the meat for several hours before smoking it.

## Examples

- The plan sounds great, but here is the rub: we have no money.
- The new software is free for everyone to use, but the rub is that it requires a very expensive computer to run.
- The proposal offers a comprehensive solution to urban congestion, yet the rub remains the lack of political will to implement the necessary tax increases.

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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.