rubber up
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To put on rubber protective clothes or gloves before doing a dangerous or dirty job.
Literal meaning: To cover oneself in rubber — transparent in context.
Meanings
1 C1 informal
To put on rubber gloves, boots, or protective clothing before undertaking a task.
"You need to rubber up before handling those chemicals."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Specialist and informal. Used in industrial, laboratory, or hazmat contexts. Rare in everyday conversation. Also encountered in some regional dialects informally.
Commonly used with
gloves suit apron boots hazmat
Forms
Base
rubber up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rubbers up
he/she/it
Past simple
rubbered up
yesterday
Past participle
rubbered up
have + pp
-ing form
rubbering up
continuous
Understand "rubber up" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "rubber up" on Looplines