Idioms for rough

    in the rough, in a rough, crude, or unfinished state: The country has an exciting potential, but civilization there is still in the rough.
    rough it, to live without the customary comforts or conveniences; endure rugged conditions: We really roughed it on our fishing trip.

Origin of rough

before 1000; Middle English (adj. and noun); Old English rūh (adj.); cognate with Dutch ruig, German rauh

OTHER WORDS FROM rough

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rough

rough ruff

British Dictionary definitions for rough out (1 of 2)

rough out

verb (tr, adverb)

engineering to machine (a workpiece, such as a casting or forging) with heavy cuts leaving a rough surface to be finished

British Dictionary definitions for rough out (2 of 2)

See also rough out, rough up

Derived forms of rough

roughness, noun

Word Origin for rough

Old English rūh; related to Old Norse ruksa, Middle Dutch rūge, rūwe, German rauh

Idioms and Phrases with rough out (1 of 2)

rough out

Also, rough in. Prepare or indicate in unfinished form, as in He roughed out several plans for a merger, or They roughed in where the doors would go without checking with the architect. [Second half of 1700s]

Idioms and Phrases with rough out (2 of 2)

rough