rub at

rub at (something)

To exert pressure on and move in contact with something. Make sure not to rub at your eye if you've got something in there—it will only make it more irritated. He rubbed at the coin with a cloth to make it shine a bit brighter.
See also: rub
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rub (away) at something

to chafe or scrape something, repeatedly. The side of his shoe rubbed away at the side of his desk until the paint wore off. Don't rub at your sore. It will get worse.
See also: rub
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • all right
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • (have) got something going (with someone)
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
  • a fast talker
  • all for the best
  • a thing of the past
References in periodicals archive
During the fall, every mature buck in the area will visit an active scent-post rub at one time or another.
"There's a rub!" Part 2: Last month, we discussed a variety of rubs, including velvet-shedding rubs and mock-combat rubs. This month, we'll delve into the much more complicated world of scent-post, or scent-communication, rubs. Without a doubt, these are the most significant rubs to hunters
They rub at random locations as a means of demonstrating strength and dominance to other bucks, while avoiding the risk of combat.
Scent post rubs