the rub

the rub

The biggest problem or difficulty (with the situation being discussed). The phrase was famously used in Shakespeare's Hamlet (as "there's the rub") and is now seen in many different variations, including "therein lies the rub" and "that's the rub." All I need to do to get my car back is pay the fine, but there's the rub: my wallet is locked in the glove compartment.
See also: rub
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the rub

The difficulty or problem, as in We'd love to come but there's the rub-we can't get reservations. This expression may come from lawn bowling, where rub refers to an unevenness in the ground that impedes the ball. Its most famous use is in one of Hamlet's soliloquies ( Hamlet, 3:1): "To sleep, perchance to dream-ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come ... Must give us pause." [Late 1500s]
See also: rub
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • that's the rub
  • there is/lies the rub
  • there(in) lies the rub
  • therein
  • there's the rub
  • here's the rub
  • (something), thy name is (someone or something)
  • springes to catch woodcocks
  • woe is me
  • Woe is me!
References in periodicals archive
After a refrigerated 24 hours with the rub, I roast them, covered, at 250 degrees for at least 3 hours.
If you fancy doing exactly that you can book a table for a chicken nugget themed date nightonline at the Rub websiteand write in the comments that you'd like to order them.
The rub uses Mentholatum's maximum-strength formula with 100% natural active ingredients.
If you make a Bloody Mary from scratch, add the rub to the tomato juice."
When implemented properly, the bucks will take over the rub tree and daylight sightings will increase, which is exactly what we need.
Spread some of the rub evenly over the meat surface, pressing down, and leave for 30 mins or so.
The field is located in the southern part of the kingdom at the Rub Al Khali/Empty Quarter desert.
The interest rate is set at 9.5% and LIBOR + 6.7% for the RUB and USD tranches, respectively.
Want to stop the rub? Cut a piece of 1-in tubing, NSN 4720-01-422-0242, and wrap it around the hood spring.
Rubbed Barbecue Spicy Ribs Ingredients 4kg of small pork ribs on 1kg racks For the rub Des spoon dried onion flakes Des spoon dried garlic flakes Des spoon sea salt Des spoon chilli powder Des spoon cayenne pepper Des spoon black peppercorns Des spoon mustard powder Des spoon celery salt Des spoon soft brown sugar For the glaze 100ml white wine vinegar 30g brown sugar 2 teaspoon chilli flakes 100ml tomato ketchup 2 teaspoons English mustard Good slug of dark rum Method 1.
They added fluorescent dye to the rub and examined hands under ultraviolet light to spot areas missed.
The proper method, with the rub covering all parts of the hands including fingertips, was performed by 31% of people before training and by 74% afterward, he said.
The rub cleanses and moisturizes, and it leaves a fine layer of protective, soy lecithin-derived phospholipid on the skin's surface, which feels fabulously silky!
Older marks were characterized by darkened areas of exposed wood and healing of the inner bark around the perimeter of the rub (Fig.
Place a medium-mesh wire strainer on the wax paper and transfer the rub mixture to the strainer.