rubbed off
Habits became contagious
To rub off is to transfer through contact, literally or figuratively.
Ink rubs off wet paper onto your hands.
More often the phrase describes influence: traits, habits, or attitudes that spread from one person to another through proximity.
Her enthusiasm rubbed off on the whole team.
I hoped some of his discipline would rub off on me.
The transfer is usually gradual and unconscious.
- transferredMoved to new location
- erasedRemoved by rubbing
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- picked upTook hold of
picked up on · abrasion · osmosis · grinding · faded away · contagious · emulated · influence · good influence · bad habits · spread · worn · worn down · imitation · imprint · degraded · transmitted · scuffed
rubbed offbounced off
rejected · repelled · fell on deaf ears · indoctrinated · drilled into
rubbed offwore off
Gradually lost effect
faded · dissipated · washed away · took root · stuck
off, rub, rubber, rubbing, rubbed, rubbers, rubbings, rub off