Advertisement

Advertisement

rough stuff

noun

, Informal.
  1. violence, as physical assault, torture or shooting.
  2. unnecessary violence or infractions of the rules, as in sports.
  3. blatant vulgarity or obscenity.


rough stuff

noun

  1. informal.
    violence
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of rough stuff1

First recorded in 1885–90
Discover More

Example Sentences

Positive relationships often serve as a buffer for the rough stuff in life.

From Time

But there were no beatings, no waterboarding, no rough stuff at all.

It's good practice for the rough stuff to come, when we blast out!

As a matter of fact, they did it rather violently—a good deal more like movie rough stuff than the real thing.

I know exactly what is inside—rough stuff, bought to maintain my disguise as a vaquero, but all the better for present purposes.

Usually the boys who do the rough stuff in a case like this know little of what is really going on.

You never heard of me starting any rough stuff when there was a pinch coming off, did you?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


rough-spokenrough trade