scrub in
To wash your hands and arms in a special medical way so you can go into an operating room
Meanings
To undergo the formal sterile hand and arm washing procedure required before participating in a surgical operation
"The attending surgeon told the medical student she could scrub in for the appendectomy."
"You wanna scrub in? You can scrub in."
— Grey's Anatomy, Season 1 (ABC, 2005)
(Informal extension) To join a team or activity after completing the required preparation, borrowed from the medical sense
"The new technician finally scrubbed in on the lab project after finishing his safety certification."
Primarily a medical/surgical term used by doctors, nurses, and surgical staff. Well known to the general public largely through medical TV dramas. Almost exclusively used in a hospital or operating theatre context.
Commonly used with
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Synonyms
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