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

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And here’s the rub: amid all the complaints about how Democrats should be more coordinated, no one is really speaking with confidence about how Democratic leaders should be treading at this moment. Philip Elliott, Time, 23 June 2025 Here’s the rub: first choice for Captain America: Brave New World is higher than Superman‘s by 71% at the same point in time. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 June 2025 But in front of the employees or the investors, ah therein lies the rub. Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025 But here’s the rub: most businesses aren’t ready to transform in the ways that AI will demand. Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the rub

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Cite this Entry

“The rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20rub. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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