rougher
rougher — verb
- rougherpresent simple I / you / we / they
- roughers3rd person singular
- roughering-ing form
- rougheredpast simple
1. to live without usual comforts such as electricity, running water, or a proper b
to live without usual comforts such as electricity, running water, or a proper bed, especially while travelling or camping
Esme and her brother roughed it in a tent by the lake for two weeks.
fixed phrase: rough it — 'it' always required
After the water heater broke, the family roughed it with cold showers for three days.
Joon roughed it in a camper van across New Zealand instead of staying in hotels.
The soldiers roughed it in the forest with no tents or warm blankets during training.
Nora's grandparents roughed it in a tiny room with no furniture after the move.
文法句型
rough + it
用法筆記
Always used with the fixed object 'it'. There is no version of this sense without the word 'it'.
常見錯誤
2. to create a basic, unfinished version of a drawing, plan, or piece of writing, w
to create a basic, unfinished version of a drawing, plan, or piece of writing, without including details yet
The architect roughed out the shape of the building on a napkin during lunch.
collocation: rough out + shape / plan / drawing
Gabriel roughed in the main characters for his comic before adding any colour.
Before writing the full report, Quan roughed out the key points on a whiteboard.
The sculptor roughed out the human figure from a block of clay in two hours.
Imran roughed in a garden design outline on a piece of scrap paper.
- refine
means to add detail and improve precision
文法句型
rough out + noun phrase
rough in + noun phrase
用法筆記
The object can appear between the verb and the particle for short noun phrases: 'rough a plan out' is acceptable, but 'rough out a detailed garden design' is more natural.
常見錯誤
rougher — noun
- roughersingular
- roughersplural
1. a simple drawing made quickly that shows the main features of something, usually
a simple drawing made quickly that shows the main features of something, usually done before the final version
The designer showed Mei-Lin a rougher of the new kitchen before finalizing the plans.
countable noun: a rougher of [something]
James drew several roughs of the building entrance to compare different window arrangements.
Before the oil painting, the artist made a rougher on paper to plan the composition.
The students handed in their roughs for early feedback before the final submission.
用法筆記
Countable; often appears in art and design contexts. The plural form is roughs.
2. an early simple version of a piece of writing, plan, or idea that is not yet com
an early simple version of a piece of writing, plan, or idea that is not yet complete or detailed
Priya wrote a rougher of her speech and revised it several times before the conference.
write a rougher of [document]
The committee reviewed a rougher of the new budget before making any final decisions.
review a rougher — common collocation in meetings
Haruto sent a rougher of the agreement to his lawyer for an initial check.
The team's rougher of the marketing plan listed the three main goals for the year.
用法筆記
Countable. Typically followed by 'of' to specify what the rougher relates to. Often used in business and academic settings.
3. a person who behaves in a violent or aggressive way, often causing trouble in pu
a person who behaves in a violent or aggressive way, often causing trouble in public places
The bar owner asked the rougher to leave after he started shouting at other customers.
countable noun referring to a person who is violent
A group of roughs gathered near the stadium after the match, looking for trouble.
plural form common when referring to a group
The security guard was trained to deal with roughs calmly and without using force.
Local shopkeepers complained about the roughs who hung around the street corner at night.
用法筆記
Often appears in plural (roughs) when referring to a group. Less common in modern everyday speech; may sound dated or literary.
4. an area of long grass and rough ground on a golf course, outside the short caref
an area of long grass and rough ground on a golf course, outside the short carefully-maintained fairway
Amara's ball landed in the rougher, making her next shot much more difficult.
in the rougher — fixed phrase for golf terrain
The golfer spent several minutes searching for his ball in the deep rougher.
Beginners often find their balls in the rougher because their shots are not very accurate.
After rain the rougher on the seventh hole was thick and hard to play from.
The caddie warned Diego to avoid the rougher on the right side of the fairway.
- rough
the standard term in golf; 'rougher' is a less common variant
- fairway
the area of short grass on a golf course, opposite to the rougher
用法筆記
Uncountable; always used with 'the' (the rougher). This is a golf-specific term. On a golf course, the fairway is the short grass where players aim to hit the ball, and the rougher is the longer grass bordering it.
rougher — adjective
- rougherpositive
- rougherercomparative
- rougherestsuperlative
1. describes a surface that is not flat or level, showing an uneven texture because
describes a surface that is not flat or level, showing an uneven texture because of wear, damage, or age
The old stone road was so rough that Diego's bicycle shook with every bump.
collocation: rough road / rough surface
William ran his hand over the rough wall where the plaster had fallen off.
The wooden table felt rough after years of use and exposure to rain.
Soraya replaced the rough cutting board because it was hard to clean properly.
文法句型
rough + noun
be + rough
用法筆記
Frequently used with nouns describing roads, walls, floors, and other flat surfaces. Distinguished from sense 2 (ROUGH TO TOUCH) by focusing on visible unevenness rather than tactile texture.
常見錯誤
2. describes a surface or material that feels coarse and uneven against your skin,
describes a surface or material that feels coarse and uneven against your skin, such as dry hands or unprocessed paper
Vivek's hands became rough after working in the garden without gloves.
collocation: rough hands / rough skin
The rough fabric of the old sofa left red marks on Hiro's legs.
Alessia complained about the rough texture of the handmade paper for the art project.
Every winter, Noa's elbows became so rough that the skin started to crack.
文法句型
rough + noun
feel + rough
be + rough
用法筆記
Commonly used with body parts (hands, elbows, skin) or natural materials (paper, fabric, wood). Unlike sense 1 (UNEVEN SURFACE), this sense emphasises the tactile experience of touching the surface rather than its appearance.
3. not precise or detailed; giving an approximate idea, number, or description with
not precise or detailed; giving an approximate idea, number, or description without exact accuracy
Diego made a rough drawing of the house so the builder could understand the plan.
collocation: rough drawing / rough sketch
Can you give me a rough idea of how much the kitchen repairs will cost?
collocation: rough idea
The teacher gave a rough estimate of twenty students for the field trip next month.
William had a rough plan for the weekend but nothing was fixed yet.
Soraya calculated a rough total and said the project would take about three months.
- approximate
more formal than 'rough', common in business and academic writing
- preliminary
suggests something done first and likely to be changed later
- basic
implies simplicity rather than lack of precision
文法句型
rough + noun (estimate, idea, plan, drawing)
rough + noun + of + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used attributively before a noun (a rough estimate, rough idea, rough plan). It is not used predicatively — you would not say *the estimate is rough* in most contexts.
常見錯誤
4. describes a voice, sound, or noise that is strong, loud, and unpleasant to liste
describes a voice, sound, or noise that is strong, loud, and unpleasant to listen to, often because it is not smooth or clear.
James had a rough voice from cheering loudly at the football match all afternoon.
rough + voice — describing voice quality after strain
The old radio produced a rough, crackling sound whenever Hiro turned the dial.
Nadia's rough cough made everyone in the quiet library turn and look at her.
A rough grinding noise came from the kitchen tap when Quinn opened it.
The singer's voice turned rough after three hours of non-stop singing on stage.
文法句型
rough + noun (voice, sound, cough, noise)
用法筆記
Often used to describe a voice that has become harsh due to illness, shouting, or overuse. Also common for mechanical sounds that are uneven or unpleasant.
常見錯誤
5. describes a place or person that is dangerous because of crime, violence, or the
describes a place or person that is dangerous because of crime, violence, or the possibility of physical harm.
The guide warned tourists not to walk alone in the rough port area at night.
rough + area — collocation for a dangerous neighbourhood
Emre moved away from the rough neighborhood after someone broke into his car twice.
A group of rough-looking men stood outside the old train station after midnight.
Valentina crossed the street to avoid the rough crowd gathered near the bar entrance.
The prison housed some of the roughest criminals the country had ever seen.
文法句型
rough + noun (area, neighborhood, crowd, man)
用法筆記
Typically describes urban areas or groups of people. When used about a person directly ('a rough guy'), it suggests the person is likely to use violence. Compare with 'rough' meaning rude or uncouth (sense 13), which is about bad manners rather than danger.
常見錯誤
6. describes stormy conditions with powerful winds and high waves that make outdoor
describes stormy conditions with powerful winds and high waves that make outdoor activities or travel difficult and dangerous.
All the fishing boats stayed in the harbour because of the rough weather this morning.
rough weather — standard collocation for stormy conditions
The ferry crossing was very rough, and many passengers felt sick from the big waves.
Rough winds damaged several roofs and knocked down trees across the village last night.
Hoa decided to cancel the beach picnic because the sea looked too rough for swimming.
The captain guided the ship carefully through the rough waves near the rocky coastline.
文法句型
rough + noun (weather, sea, wind, waves, conditions)
用法筆記
Common in weather forecasts and maritime contexts. 'Rough sea' specifically means waves are high and dangerous; 'rough weather' can include strong wind, rain, and storms.
7. describes a period of time, situation, or experience that is full of problems, d
describes a period of time, situation, or experience that is full of problems, difficulties, or unpleasant events, making life hard to cope with.
The family went through a rough time after the local factory closed down.
a rough time — most common collocation for a difficult period
David had a rough day when the computer crashed and deleted all his files.
Sleeping was hard for Andrei during the rough months of looking for a new job.
The small shop survived the rough economic situation by cutting costs and reducing staff hours.
文法句型
rough + noun (time, day, week, year, period)
have a rough time
用法筆記
Often used with 'have', 'go through', or 'experience'. The collocation 'rough patch' is a common fixed expression for a temporary difficult period in a relationship or business.
常見錯誤
8. describes an area of land left untended, covered with wild plants and with an un
describes an area of land left untended, covered with wild plants and with an uneven surface
Children played in the rough field behind the factory where weeds grew taller than them.
collocation: rough field / rough ground
Joon's dog ran off across the rough land and disappeared into the tall grass.
The rough lot next to the railway was full of old bottles and wild bushes.
Lakan planned to turn the rough patch behind the house into a vegetable garden.
- cultivated
describes land that is prepared and used for growing crops or plants
- tended
implies regular care and maintenance
文法句型
rough + noun (ground, land, field)
用法筆記
Typically used for patches of undeveloped land within or near built-up areas, not for truly remote wilderness. The emphasis is on neglect rather than natural beauty.
9. describes a cheap bottle of wine or other strong drink that has a harsh and unpl
describes a cheap bottle of wine or other strong drink that has a harsh and unpleasant flavour
Ezra sipped the rough wine and put the glass down with a frown.
collocation: rough wine
The rough taste of the cheap whiskey reminded Aylin of bad decisions made on holiday.
No one would finish the rough wine that had been open for days.
Lakan poured the rough beer down the sink and opened a fresh bottle instead.
文法句型
rough + noun (wine, beer, whiskey, drink)
用法筆記
This sense is typically used attributively (rough wine, rough whiskey). It carries a negative judgement about quality and is most often used for cheap or poorly made drinks, not for intentionally strong spirits.
10. made without much skill, care, or expense; not finished or polished in a detaile
made without much skill, care, or expense; not finished or polished in a detailed way
The rough wooden bench in the park was uncomfortable but perfect for watching the sunset.
collocation: rough wooden [object]
Hiro built a rough shelter from branches and old cloth to keep the rain off.
The villagers lived in rough huts with no electricity or running water.
Alessia wore a rough cotton dress that a local tailor had sewn by hand.
- refined
made with great skill and attention to detail
- polished
finished with care to create a smooth, attractive surface
- sophisticated
complex, advanced, and made with skill
文法句型
rough + noun (hut, bench, shelter, table, wood)
be + rough
用法筆記
Describes objects that are functional but unrefined. Unlike sense 1 (UNEVEN SURFACE), the focus is on the lack of craftsmanship and finishing rather than on touch or appearance.
11. describes the sound made by a machine, engine, or motor that is not working corr
describes the sound made by a machine, engine, or motor that is not working correctly, producing uneven or harsh noises that signal a problem.
The car engine sounds rough, so Mira is taking it to the mechanic tomorrow.
sound rough — used for detecting a mechanical problem by ear
Tendai knew the washing machine was broken when it started sounding rough.
The old lawnmower sounded rough and needed new blades and fresh oil.
Felix checked the fan motor because it had been running rough all morning.
文法句型
sound rough
run rough
rough + noun (engine, motor)
用法筆記
Almost always used after linking verbs (sound, run, feel). Not used before a noun in this sense — you would not say 'a rough engine' to mean an engine that sounds faulty.
常見錯誤
12. feeling slightly ill or unwell, often with symptoms such as tiredness, headache,
feeling slightly ill or unwell, often with symptoms such as tiredness, headache, or an upset stomach, sometimes caused by lack of sleep or drinking too much alcohol.
Hoa felt rough the morning after eating too much fried food at the night market.
feel rough — informal British expression for feeling unwell
Kwame called his office to say he felt rough and was not coming in today.
After only three hours of sleep, Iris felt rough and stayed home from school.
Ziad looked rough after the long flight, so his friend drove him straight home.
- unwell
more formal and general; covers any degree of illness
- under the weather
idiomatic; slightly milder and more polite
- terrible
stronger; 'I feel terrible' implies worse symptoms
文法句型
feel rough
look rough
用法筆記
Primarily British informal usage, common in spoken English. Only used after linking verbs ('feel rough', 'look rough'). Not used before a noun in this sense. Typically describes minor illness or hangovers rather than serious medical conditions.
常見錯誤
13. If a person or their behavior is rough, they speak or act in an unkind or impoli
If a person or their behavior is rough, they speak or act in an unkind or impolite way that shows little care for how others feel.
Joshua was punished for his rough manners at the dinner table.
rough + manners (collocation for impolite behavior)
The customers complained about the rough treatment they received from the staff.
rough + treatment (collocation)
Baraka's rough language shocked the guests at the formal party.
It was rough of Heloísa to speak that way to her grandmother.
The teacher told Anjali that her rough language would not be tolerated in class.
- rude
stronger and more direct; suggests a deliberate choice to be disrespectful
- uncouth
more formal; describes someone who lacks manners due to ignorance rather than intention
- coarse
focuses on vulgarity in speech or manner, especially about taboo subjects
- crude
describes behavior that is blunt and lacking in subtlety or tact
文法句型
rough + noun (person / behavior / manners / language)
be + rough (with someone)
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns such as manners, language, treatment, and behavior to describe how someone acts toward others, especially in situations that call for politeness.
常見錯誤
rougher — adverb
1. more violently or more harshly than before — used when someone behaves or handle
more violently or more harshly than before — used when someone behaves or handles something with greater physical force or less care than another person or situation.
The second guard treated the prisoner even rougher than the first one had.
comparative: even rougher than
Quan warned the children that the bigger waves would hit the shore rougher than the morning ones.
The movers handled the old piano rougher than Allison expected, leaving a scratch on the wood.
Lotte noticed the wind was blowing rougher than when they had first set out on the boat.
- more roughly
formal equivalent of 'rougher'; preferred in academic or professional writing
- more violently
emphasises physical aggression rather than general harshness
- more harshly
focuses on severity of treatment, not just physical force
- more gently
opposite in both physical force and manner of treatment
- more softly
focuses on lower force or pressure
文法句型
be rougher with [sb/sth]
treat [sb] rougher
用法筆記
Rougher is the comparative form of rough (used as an adverb). It is less formal than 'more roughly' and is most common in spoken English or informal writing.
常見錯誤
2. in more basic and uncomfortable conditions than usual, especially by sleeping ou
in more basic and uncomfortable conditions than usual, especially by sleeping outdoors or without normal home comforts.
After losing their apartment, the family ended up living rougher than they ever had before.
collocation: live rougher
The hikers slept rougher on the mountain trail than they did in the forest campsite.
Tendai had to live rougher during the festival than at home, with only a thin sleeping bag on the ground.
The refugees found themselves living rougher in the temporary shelter than they had in their own village.
- more primitively
formal alternative that emphasises lack of modern amenities
- more precariously
focuses on instability rather than discomfort
- more comfortably
opposite in terms of physical ease and amenities
文法句型
live rougher
sleep rougher
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with verbs of living or staying, such as 'live', 'sleep', 'stay', or 'camp'. The expression 'sleep rough' (base form) is a fixed British English idiom.