the rub

noun

formal

: something that causes a difficulty or problem

She's an amazing cook, but she rarely has time to make meals. There's the rub.

Therein/There lies the rub.

Examples of the rub in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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But here’s the rub: the effort comes just weeks before the House is set to welcome Delaware’s Sarah McBride as the first openly transgender member of Congress. —

Philip Elliott, TIME, 19 Nov. 2024 Total Time: 35 Minutes Get The Recipe 47 of 62 Maple-Chipotle Air Fryer Pork Chops The meat is juicy and tender, the rub is spicy and flavorful, and the sauce is sweet and tangy. —

Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024 But here's the rub: if the eurozone survives, the consequences may be just as ruinous. —

Vivien A. Schmidt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 2011 Apply the rub: Generously rub the salt mixture over the entire turkey, including inside the cavity. —

Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the rub