those who play at bowls must look out for rubbers

those who play at bowls must look out for rubbers: Rubber is apparently an alteration of rub, an obstacle or impediment to the course of a bowl. Cf. 1595 SHAKESPEARE Richard II III. iv. 4 Madam, we’ll play at bowls.—’Twill make me think the world is full of rubs.

1762 SMOLLETT Sir Launcelot Greaves I. x. (heading) Which sheweth that he who plays at bowls, will sometimes meet with rubbers.

1824 SCOTT Redgauntlet III. vi. ‘And how if it fails?’ said Darsie. ‘Thereafter as it may be—’ said Nixon; ‘they who play at bowls must meet with rubbers.’

1874 L. STEPHEN Hours in Library I. 384 De Quincey..admits..that the fanaticism of the rub was ‘much more reasonable’ than the fanaticism of Priestly; and that those who play at bowls must look out for rubbers.

1907 F. W. HACKWOOD Old English Sports xi. Another term used in common speech and derived from this game [bowls] is ‘rub’; as when we say..‘he who plays at bowls must look out for rubs’—that is, he must consider the inequalities of the ground, and..make due allowance for them.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

look — see look before you leap a cat may look at a king the devil looks after his own dogs look up to you, cats look down on you, pigs is equal never look a gift horse in the mouth when all you have is a hammer, everything look … Proverbs new dictionary
play — noun see fair play’s a jewel give and take is fair play turn about is fair play all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy verb see those who play at bowls must look out for rubbers … Proverbs new dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
bowl — see those who play at bowls must look out for rubbers … Proverbs new dictionary
rubber — see those who play at bowls must look out for rubbers … Proverbs new dictionary

Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias