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rubbed off; rubbing off; rubs off
Definition of rub off
: to become transferred
bad habits rubbed off on them carbon rubs off on your hands
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Other Words from rub off
rub-off \ ˈrəb-ˌȯf 
\ noun
\ nounExamples of rub off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Fill a small pot or container with about 6 inches of rose potting soil and poke a small hole in the center. Insert the stem in the hole and take care to avoid rubbing off the rooting hormone.
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Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, "How to Grow Roses from Cuttings," 10 Apr. 2020 The tension felt by consumers in the checkout line is rubbing off on some employees.
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NBC News, "On the coronavirus front lines: Grocery workers 'vulnerable' as panicked shoppers crowd stores," 20 Mar. 2020 Innocence Project lawyers asked a judge to allow the items to be tested, saying the killer’s DNA would have rubbed off on them while the killer was tying up Wright.
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Washington Post, "Georgia’s high court rules DNA evidence warrants new trial," 13 Mar. 2020 Els is one of the more genial players in professional golf, and in the year-and-a-half leading up to the competition, his sociability has rubbed off on his players.
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Karen Crouse, New York Times, "Chasing for Years, Ernie Els Has Tiger Woods Right Where He Wants Him," 13 Dec. 2019 And maybe, just maybe, its racing DNA will rub off on the Atlas to give it a little more speed.
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cleveland, "Big Volkswagen Atlas shrugs off the snow," 8 Feb. 2020 McKendrick said their postseason experience and success in football will rub off on the basketball squad.
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Steve Sadin, chicagotribune.com, "Pioneer Press 2019-20 boys basketball preview: Central Suburban North," 21 Nov. 2019 My intense love for chocolate has rubbed off on my family, too — especially my mother.
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TheWeek, "The groovy chocolate cake recipe that brings me back to my childhood," 17 Feb. 2020 Everette said that’s certainly rubbed off on the company as a whole.
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Michael Walsh, courant.com, "YHB Investment Advisors Celebrating 30th Anniversary With Community Service Project," 9 Sep. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rub off.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for rub off
The first known use of rub off was in 1869
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