rough up
Related to rough up: look to, stick to, shy away from, in view of, scrutinised, dropped off
rough up
To use physical violence against someone or to push someone around with physical force. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rough" and "up." The mob boss sent around a couple of goons to rough up Thomas for not paying them protection money. I managed to get video footage of the police roughing the man up on the street before arresting him.
See also: rough, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
rough someone up
to beat someone up; to maltreat someone. Am I going to have to rough you up, or will you cooperate? The crooks roughed up the old lady before taking her purse.
See also: rough, up
rough something up
to scrape or rub something in a way that makes it rough. All you have to do is rough the ground up, sow the seeds, and then water them. Rough up the surface a little before you paint it.
See also: rough, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
rough up
Manhandle, subject to physical abuse, as in The gang was about to rough him up when the police arrived. [First half of 1900s]
See also: rough, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
rough up
v.
1. To cause something to become less smooth: Rough the wood up so that the glue will hold better. The ice skates roughed up the surface of the ice.
2. To treat someone roughly or with physical violence; manhandle someone: The bully roughed up one of the kids on the playground. They threatened to rough me up if I didn't give them the money.
See also: rough, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
rough someone up
tv. to beat someone up; to mistreat someone. Am I going to have to rough you up, or will you cooperate?
See also: rough, someone, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- rough someone up
- a cheap shot
- cheap shot
- get physical
- physical
- beat (something) out of (someone or something)
- enforcer
- body shame
- body shaming
- deepfake