the rub
noun
formal
: something that causes a difficulty or problem
She's an amazing cook, but she rarely has time to make meals. There's the rub.
Therein/There lies the rub.
Examples of the rub in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And there’s the rub, because in reality nobody outside is actually or substantially helping defend the populace against the regime’s onslaught.
—
Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
High heat draws out moisture and intensifies watermelon's sweetness, and the rub creates additional caramelization for even deeper flavor notes.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 12 Jan. 2026
For baseball, therein lies some of the rub.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
But here’s the rub — Tennessee gained its final 61 yards on six carries after the 49ers had taken a 31-10 lead after Brock Purdy’s 1-yard flip to George Kittle.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the rub
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Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
High heat draws out moisture and intensifies watermelon's sweetness, and the rub creates additional caramelization for even deeper flavor notes.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 12 Jan. 2026
For baseball, therein lies some of the rub.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
But here’s the rub — Tennessee gained its final 61 yards on six carries after the 49ers had taken a 31-10 lead after Brock Purdy’s 1-yard flip to George Kittle.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the rub
Cite this Entry
“The rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20rub. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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