1 B1 neutral
To dry an animal or person by rubbing vigorously with a towel or cloth.
"She rubbed down the horse with a towel after their long ride."
separable
rub down
B1 neutral separable transitive
To dry, massage, clean, or smooth something by rubbing vigorously.
In plain English
To rub something or someone firmly from top to bottom — to dry, clean, or relax muscles.
What does "rub down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To massage someone's body, especially an athlete's muscles after exertion.
"The physio rubbed down the sprinter's legs before the final race."
separable
3 B2 neutral
To smooth a surface by rubbing it, especially in preparation for painting or varnishing.
"Rub down the woodwork with fine sandpaper before applying the primer."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To rub in a downward direction — fairly transparent.
Actually means
To rub something or someone firmly from top to bottom — to dry, clean, or relax muscles.
Usage tip
Has several common uses: drying an animal or person with a towel, massaging a sportsperson, and smoothing a surface before painting. In equestrian contexts, 'rub down' specifically refers to grooming a horse after exercise.
Words that pair with "rub down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
horse athlete surface towel wood muscles
How to conjugate "rub down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
rub down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rubs down
he/she/it
Past simple
rubed down
yesterday
Past participle
rubed down
have + pp
-ing form
rubing down
continuous
Hear "rub down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "rub down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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