rub off
phrasal verbrub off (on/onto somebody)
- (of personal qualities, behaviour, opinions, etc.) to become part of a person’s character as a result of that person spending time with somebody who has those qualities, etc.
- Her sense of fun has rubbed off on her children.
- Let’s hope some of his good luck rubs off on me!
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rub something off (something) | rub off
- to remove something or to be removed by rubbing
- She rubbed off the dead skin.
- The gold colouring had begun to rub off.
- (British English) If you write on the whiteboard, rub if off at the end of the lesson.