rub off on
Spread through proximity
When a quality or habit rubs off on someone, it transfers through proximity or repeated contact, like pigment rubbing off a surface onto whatever touches it.
Attitudes, behaviors, and traits rub off: Her optimism rubbed off on the whole team.
The transfer is usually gradual and unconscious rather than deliberate.
- affectProduce change upon
- behaviorManner of conducting oneself
- traitsDistinguishing personal features
- contagiousTransmissible between people
- influencePower to affect others
mark · habits · mannerisms · transfer · attitude · model · infectious · emulate · impart · mentorship · osmosis · bleed · positive vibes · peer pressure · convey · persuade · second nature · enthusiasm
transfer direction
rub off onbounce off
Reflect upon striking
roll off · repel · deflect · resist · fall on deaf ears