rub off

present singular third person rubs off · participle present rubbing off · participle past rubbed off · past rubbed off

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see rub, off.
2. To clean by rubbing.

   He was wet through with the dew and quite earthy from diving into the burrows the Boy had made for him in the flower bed, and Nana grumbled as she rubbed him off with a corner of her apron.

   1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC

3. idiomaticintransitiveTo be transferred with little or no effort.

   I hoped that, if I hung out with the popular kids, some of their charisma might rub off on me.

   1 more example

   Over time, I noticed various exercises I did with Woebot rubbing off in my daily life. Woebot taught me how to set SMART goals — specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-limited.

   2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times