rough up
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
To physically attack someone, typically causing minor injury or discomfort, often as intimidation.
To treat someone harshly or violently; to manhandle; also, informally, to give something a deliberately unpolished or rugged appearance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily transitive phrasal verb. Implies deliberate, aggressive physical contact. Can be used figuratively in some contexts (e.g., 'rough up a design').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Meaning and usage are largely identical. Both use it predominantly for physical assault. No significant syntactic or lexical differences.
Connotations
In both varieties, it suggests a beating that is not necessarily intended to cause severe permanent injury, but to intimidate or punish. Associated with thugs, bullies, or police brutality.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English crime/detective genres. Common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: person/group] rough up [Object: person][Subject: person] get roughed up [by agent]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rough someone up”
- “Get roughed up”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used in standard business contexts. Might appear in narratives about corporate espionage or intimidation.
Academic
Not used in formal academic writing. May appear in sociological or criminological texts discussing violence.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation to describe fights, muggings, or bullying. 'He got roughed up outside the club.'
Technical
Not a technical term. Potential informal use in design/art: 'rough up the edges of the graphic.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hooligans threatened to rough him up if he didn't hand over his wallet.
- He claimed the police roughed him up during the arrest.
American English
- The mobsters roughed up the witness to keep him quiet.
- Don't make me have my guys rough you up.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bigger boys tried to rough him up after school.
- He looks like he got roughed up in a fight.
- The gang was known for roughing up anyone who didn't pay their 'protection' money.
- The prisoner alleged that guards had roughed him up in his cell.
- The journalist was roughed up by security forces while covering the protest.
- The director asked the props department to rough up the costume to make it look battle-worn.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a ROUGH piece of sandpaper being rubbed UP against someone's skin - it's abrasive and hurtful, like a physical attack.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS PHYSICAL ABRASION / TREATING A PERSON LIKE AN OBJECT TO BE DAMAGED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "грубо вверх".
- Not synonymous with "избить до полусмерти" (to beat to a pulp); "rough up" is typically less severe.
- Avoid confusing with "rough out" (to sketch).
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'They roughed up.' - incorrect).
- Confusing with 'rough it' (to live without comforts).
- Misspelling as 'ruff up'.
- Using in overly formal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'rough up' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It often implies a beating that is painful and intimidating but not necessarily life-threatening. It occupies a middle ground between 'push around' and 'severely beat'.
Yes, but less commonly. It can mean to make something look worn or less polished, e.g., 'rough up a new pair of jeans' or 'rough up a presentation' to make it less formal.
'Beat up' is more general and can describe any severity of beating. 'Rough up' often carries a specific connotation of a deliberate, messy, intimidating attack, sometimes by multiple people, with the victim left bruised but not necessarily hospitalized.
To 'get roughed up' or 'be roughed up'. E.g., 'He got roughed up by the gang.'