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

But here was the rub: These burgeoning stars, with millions of followers, were all minors. —Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025

But here's the rub at tax time: The EV tax credit belongs to the lessor, not the driver who agreed to lease the car or truck. —Susan Tompor, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025

This is not a light package the Yankees would be giving up, but the rub is obvious: Beyond being very, very good, Alcantara's contract is guaranteed for 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025

But here is the rub: Veen heads to the farm to make room for 34-year-old Nick Martini and backup center fielder Sam Hilliard, who has struck out 25 times in 48 Cactus League at-bats. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 24 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for the rub

• nightclub
• bub
• club
• cub
• dub
• grub
• hub
• nub
• pub
• scrub
• shrub
• snub