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 up (1 of 2)

rough up

verb (tr, adverb)

informal to treat violently; beat up
to cause (feathers, hair, etc) to stand up by rubbing against the grain

British Dictionary definitions for rough up (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 up (1 of 2)

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]

Idioms and Phrases with rough up (2 of 2)

rough