rub down

verb

1. to dry or clean (a horse, athlete, oneself, etc) vigorously, esp after exercise
2. to make or become smooth by rubbing
3. tr to prepare (a surface) for painting by rubbing it with sandpaper

noun

1. the act of rubbing down
2. the Hong Kong term for dressing-down

Idioms and Phrases

Briskly rub the body, as in a massage. For example, The trainer rubs down marathon runners , or That horse needs rubbing down . This expression was first used (and still is) for rubbing away dust and sweat from a horse. [Late 1600s]

Example Sentences

Wawrinka only returned to the tour in April after 13 months out with a foot injury and needed treatment on the same leg - taking a medical time-out for a rub down of his left calf - as he led 2-1 in the second set.

From BBC

Then: “Can you feel when I rub down your arm?”

From New York Times

Then: “Can you feel when I rub down your arm?”

From New York Times

Instead, you'll want to use a "cleaner" like Ringer — a piece of chainmail that you use like a washcloth to scrape off food particles — or simply rub down the pan with lemon and coarse salt, which will clean the pan without harming the finish.

From Salon

Instead, you'll want to use a product like the Ringer — a piece of chainmail that you use like a washcloth to scrape off food particles — or simply rub down the pan with course salt, which will clean the metal without harming the finish.

From Salon

Related Words

• comb
• educate
• prim
• tend