the rub

noun

formal
: something that causes a difficulty or problem
She's an amazing cook, but she rarely has time to make meals. There's the rub.
Therein/There lies the rub.

Examples of the rub in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here's a rub -- here's the rub. — ABC News, 14 June 2026 But the rub is that the Truck is fairly bare-bones. — Sara Lacey, The Drive, 25 June 2026 Let the rub do its magic overnight, then bake for 20 minutes. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026 Ay, there’s the rub, as Hamlet famously said. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for the rub

Rhymes for the rub

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Browse Nearby Words

Thersites
the rub
the Rubicon
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Cite this Entry

“The rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20rub. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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