rub up against

verb

To touch something with one's body.

“Tibbles the cat rubbed up against my leg, asking for a piece of my cheese.”

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Meanings

verbrub up against (third-person singular simple present rubs up against, present participle rubbing up against, simple past and past participle rubbed up against)

present singular third person rubs up against · participle present rubbing up against · participle past rubbed up against · past rubbed up against

  1. To touch something with one's body.

    She accidentally rubbed up against the painted door and got green paint on her blouse.

  2. To touch another person with one's body in a sexually stimulating manner.

    Now men, I have rubbed up against a few men in my time, but women?

    1994, Samuel Becket, Molloy, page 75
  3. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention. (of animals)

    Tibbles the cat rubbed up against my leg, asking for a piece of my cheese.

  4. To come into conflict with someone or something.
Cite this entry
APA

rub up against. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20up%20against

MLA

“rub up against.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20up%20against. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rub up against,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20up%20against.

Source: rub up against on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.