rough up
phrasal verb
roughed up; roughing up; roughs up
informal
: to hit and hurt (someone)
The prisoner claimed that he was roughed up by the guards.
Examples of rough up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Dodgers and the security personnel who work their games have repeatedly been found liable of acting inappropriately after guards roughed up fans, in some cases causing severe injuries.
—
Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Joo Won Kang perfectly embodies Rocco, Marcellina’s prison guard father, roughing up his enveloping baritone with cranky gruffness whenever it was called for.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
After removing the plant from its nursery container, snip or prune girdling roots and rough up the surface of the root ball with your fingers.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2024
No one likes a table that’s been roughed up because their cat needed an outlet for scratching.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2024
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Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Joo Won Kang perfectly embodies Rocco, Marcellina’s prison guard father, roughing up his enveloping baritone with cranky gruffness whenever it was called for.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
After removing the plant from its nursery container, snip or prune girdling roots and rough up the surface of the root ball with your fingers.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2024
No one likes a table that’s been roughed up because their cat needed an outlet for scratching.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rough up
Dictionary Entries Near rough up
Cite this Entry
“Rough up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough%20up. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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