rub up against
Press alongside something
To rub up against something is to press and move your body against it, typically in a way that creates friction or contact.
Cats rub up against people's legs as a sign of affection or to mark territory.
The phrase can also describe inadvertently encountering something abstract: In that job, you rub up against all kinds of personalities.
In crowded spaces, people may uncomfortably rub up against strangers.
The expression sometimes carries sexual connotations when describing deliberate physical contact.
Irritate by friction
- grazeFeed on growing plants
- scrapeRub harshly against
- abradeErode through friction
- brushBristled cleaning tool
rasp · grate · scuff · wear · erode · fray · irritate · roughen
Face squarely, address directly
- faceHead's anterior surface
- meetCome into contact
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
- come acrossFind accidentally
run into · bump into · clash · collide · intersect · cross paths · engage · interact
chafe
Irritate by friction
brush · rasp · grate · scuff · wear · erode · fray · irritate · roughen · grind
confront
Face squarely, address directly
- faceHead's anterior surface
- meetCome into contact
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
come across · run into · bump into · clash · collide · intersect · cross paths · engage · interact · expose
cat
Small furry housepet
mark · scent · territory · affection · fur · whiskers · leg · ankle · head-butt · bunting