the rub

Idioms and Phrases

The difficulty or problem, as in We'd love to come but there's the rub—we can't get reservations . This expression may come from lawn bowling, where rub refers to an unevenness in the ground that impedes the ball. Its most famous use is in one of Hamlet's soliloquies ( Hamlet , 3:1): “To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come ... Must give us pause.” [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

The rub is that he may well get away with it.

From Los Angeles Times

And on the vote of confidence issue… well there is the rub.

From BBC

Hospitals are supposed to provide financial aid to patients in need, but “the rub is the implementation,” said Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief deputy director of the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Brighton's supporters felt they did not get the rub of the green with decisions, especially with the free-kick award that led to City's second goal, the mood inside the Amex worsening when second-half penalty appeals were turned down.

From BBC

I prefer my intoxication at the theater to be administered artistically, and there’s the rub with this erratic revival.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barrier
• bug
• crunch
• difficulty
• disadvantage
• drawback
• glitch
• hitch
• holdup
• hurdle
• impediment
• inconvenience
• obstacle
• stumbling block