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Vocabulary : Phrasal Verbs : R : rub out (2)

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rub out (2) American English Informal

Meaning: to kill somebody

Synonym: bump off (informal), take out (informal), do in (informal), murder

For example:

  • rub out sb The mafia will rub out anyone who talks to the police.

  • rub sb out Drug dealers rubbed him out because he'd cheated them.

Variety: This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz:

He wanted to rub somebody out, so he was trying to get
  1. a rubber
  2. a gun
  3. an eraser

Grammar explanation: separable and non-separable phrasal verbs

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