to rub off
5
3.4
- phrasal verb
:
desprenderse
- We found some fibers on the windowsill, probably particles of clothing that rubbed off when he climbed through.
- lipstick rubbed off
- paint rubbed off
- skin rubbed off
Like it looks like you have a gorgeous tan on and it doesn't rub off.
- Like it looks like you have a gorgeous tan on and it doesn't rub off.
- I'm just going to add on a little bit more concealer where it's all rubbed off from how much I touch my face and also my sweat up there.
- Oh my gosh, they kind of just like rub off and the tint definitely works.
Examples
-
Some of it rubbed off on Cody.
-
Since space is so limited, parts of the animals have been worn away, rubbed off by patrons tilting their chairs, or leaning against the walls.
Fiction book (1997) -
Her heavy makeup has long since been rubbed off.
Fiction book (1990) -
If you find that your lipsticks tend to rub off when you eat and stuff like that, this one is quite good.
-
Use wipes to rub off any dirt first.
Blog text (28) -
He had wiped his face, looking at the cloth to see if anything had rubbed off.
Fiction book (1990) -
Lint rubbed off the tattered back seat onto my new black jumper, which made me angry, and I started to cry.
Fiction book (2000) -
Momma's mouth was pale now, bloodless-looking, the bright lipstick rubbed off.
Fiction book (1996) -
After using the marker, some of the ink may rub off on your hands.
-
If you scrub too hard, the paint will rub off the wall.
Synonyms
131
3.5
To become loose and fall off
20
1.0
Remove dirt or marks from a surface by rubbing with a cloth
2
3.8
To slowly remove material by rubbing or long use
1
3.4
Remove a mark by moving a cloth or hand over it many times
Antonyms
How Thorough
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal sense ('to remove something by rubbing') is directly and transparently derived from 'rub' (apply repeated motion) + 'off' (away from a surface). The figurative sense (a quality or habit transferring to another) is a motivated metaphorical extension of the literal meaning and is somewhat inferable but not fully predictable without exposure, so overall the item is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
The verb rub off comes from the simple image of using rub so something comes off a surface, like scrubbing a label until it leaves the bottle. That's why it means 'to be removed by rubbing'.