rub off on

Idioms

Become transferred to another, influence through close contact, as in We hoped some of their good manners would rub off on our children. This idiom alludes to transferring something like paint to another substance by rubbing against it. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Maybe if I stayed here long enough, the magic would rub off on me and make everything better.

From Literature

Or is Mom somehow starting to rub off on me?

From Literature

Some of her enthusiasm might rub off on you.

From Salon

He has had five yellow cards and a red already this season and he has got to be careful, because that kind of indiscipline can rub off on your players.

From BBC

Which might rub off on Davis’ sport.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023