rough
rough — verb
1. to accept a period of time without modern comforts such as a proper bed, running
to accept a period of time without modern comforts such as a proper bed, running water, or electricity, usually by choice while camping or travelling
On their hike, Samir and Jessica roughed it in a tiny tent for three nights.
phrase: rough it + in [place]
The cabin had no electricity, but the children did not mind roughing it all weekend.
Emre roughed it on a remote island instead of staying at a fancy hotel.
Iris and her friends roughed it by sleeping on the floor of an empty house.
When the power went out, the whole family had to rough it by candlelight.
- camp out
more specific to sleeping outdoors in a tent
- live rough
British English; often suggests sleeping outside without shelter, not always by choice
- make do
broader meaning of managing with whatever is available
- live in luxury
opposite of accepting discomfort
- glamp
informal; camping with modern comforts
文法句型
rough + it
用法筆記
Always used in the fixed phrase 'rough it'. The object 'it' cannot be replaced with another noun or pronoun.
常見錯誤
rough — noun
1. a drawing made quickly at the very beginning of a project, without fine details,
a drawing made quickly at the very beginning of a project, without fine details, to plan how the final version will look
Sora showed the client a rough of the poster before starting the final version.
rough + of + noun phrase for preliminary plans
The architect drew several roughs of the library entrance before choosing one design.
plural roughs meaning multiple quick sketches
Élise kept all her roughs in a notebook for future projects.
Before painting the mural, Darius made roughs of each section in pencil.
- final version
the completed, polished piece after the rough stage
文法句型
rough + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Countable noun. Usually refers to hand-drawn sketches in art, design, or architecture. The rough comes before the more detailed version.
常見錯誤
2. the earliest, simplest version of something such as a piece of writing, a plan,
the earliest, simplest version of something such as a piece of writing, a plan, or a design, with only the main ideas and no small details yet
The first rough of the report was ten pages, but the final version had forty.
first rough → final version contrast
Indra wrote a rough of her speech on a napkin during lunch.
write + rough + of + noun phrase
The team reviewed a rough of the new website layout for early feedback.
Tomás submitted a rough of his essay so the teacher could suggest changes.
- final version
the complete, detailed product
- finished product
the polished end result
文法句型
rough + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (QUICK SKETCH): this sense applies to writing, plans, and designs — not only hand-drawn pictures. The thing it produces can be text, a layout, or a set of ideas.
常見錯誤
3. a person who behaves in a threatening or physically violent way, especially as p
a person who behaves in a threatening or physically violent way, especially as part of a group
A group of roughs started shouting outside the stadium after the match ended.
group of roughs — usually appears in plural
The shopkeeper told the roughs to leave before the police arrived.
Local residents complained about the roughs who gathered on the street corner every night.
Hui warned her brother not to get involved with the roughs from the nearby estate.
- thug
the more common modern word for a violent person
- troublemaker
broader; can describe someone who causes problems without necessarily being violent
- hooligan
specifically a young person who behaves violently in public, especially at sports events
文法句型
usually plural
用法筆記
Dated or regional British informal. Much less common in modern English than synonyms such as 'thug' or 'troublemaker'. Usually appears in plural. Avoid in formal writing.
常見錯誤
4. on a golf course, the long grass, bushes, and wild plants at the edges of each h
on a golf course, the long grass, bushes, and wild plants at the edges of each hole that make the ball harder to play than on the short fairway grass
His ball landed in the rough, so his next shot was much harder than usual.
in the rough — golf position
The rough along the fairway was filled with thick grass and thorny bushes.
Vinícius spent five minutes searching for his ball in the deep rough.
Good players keep the ball on the fairway to avoid the rough.
- fairway
the area of short grass on a golf course, opposite to the rough
文法句型
the rough
in the rough
deep rough
用法筆記
Uncountable. Always takes 'the': 'the rough'. Used only in the context of golf. The opposite is 'the fairway' — the short, mown grass where the ball is easy to play.
常見錯誤
rough — adjective
1. A rough surface has an uneven top layer, covered with small bumps or ridges that
A rough surface has an uneven top layer, covered with small bumps or ridges that make it hard to walk on or slide a hand across easily.
The old stone path was rough and uneven, so walking on it felt unsteady.
collocation: rough + path / road / surface
Iris hurt her knee when she tripped on the rough ground outside the playground.
The carpenter sanded the rough wooden table until the top felt completely smooth.
The rough walls of the cave scratched Zayd's jacket as he crawled through.
用法筆記
Commonly contrasts with 'smooth' when describing surfaces before and after treatment, such as sanding or paving.
常見錯誤
2. If a material or a person's skin has a rough texture, it feels coarse against yo
If a material or a person's skin has a rough texture, it feels coarse against your fingers rather than soft or smooth.
The paper felt rough between Tamar's fingers, unlike the smooth pages of a new book.
tactile sensation: rough to the touch, contrasted with smooth
After working in the garden all morning, Greta's palms felt dry and rough.
Nia touched the rough fabric of the old armchair and found it uncomfortable.
The cat's tongue felt surprisingly rough when it licked Walid's hand after dinner.
用法筆記
Most often describes the feel of paper, fabric, skin, or animal tongues. Unlike sense 1, the focus is on tactile perception rather than visual unevenness.
3. describing an area of land that has not been cared for or prepared for use, with
describing an area of land that has not been cared for or prepared for use, with many wild plants, stones, and an uneven surface.
The children explored the rough land behind the village, pushing through tall grass and bushes.
collocation: rough land / rough ground
Farmers did not plant crops on the rough hillside because the soil was too rocky.
Paul kicked the ball into the rough area near the river where nobody ever walked.
Xiu's dog disappeared into the rough field and got lost among the tall wild plants.
- wild
broader; describes nature that is not controlled by people
- uncultivated
more formal; land not used for farming
- cultivated
opposite — land that has been prepared for growing crops
- manicured
opposite — land that is carefully cut and maintained
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (rough land, rough ground, rough field). In golf, 'the rough' (noun) is the long-grass area beside the fairway — a related but separate meaning.
4. not detailed or fully correct; giving only a general idea or a close but not exa
not detailed or fully correct; giving only a general idea or a close but not exact number, amount, or plan.
The builder gave Shanti a rough estimate of how much the kitchen would cost.
collocation: rough estimate
Élise drew a rough map of the neighbourhood to help her friend find the cafe.
Ari had only a rough idea of the time, so he checked his watch again.
The teacher asked for a rough count of the students on the trip.
- approximate
more formal; often used for numbers and calculations
- estimated
specifically about a calculated guess of amount or time
- general
broader; describes a wide overview without specific details
用法筆記
Frequently appears in fixed phrases like 'rough estimate', 'rough idea', 'rough draft', and 'rough guess'. Almost always used before a noun in this sense.
常見錯誤
5. If a wine or another strong alcoholic drink tastes rough, it is cheap, sharp, an
If a wine or another strong alcoholic drink tastes rough, it is cheap, sharp, and unpleasant on your tongue.
The only drink at the party was a sour, rough red wine that tasted cheap.
collocation: rough wine / rough cider / rough whisky
Rafael tried some rough cider and made a face at its strong taste.
Jude bought a cheap bottle of rough whisky for the camping trip.
The rough house wine at the small cafe gave Dewi a headache the next morning.
用法筆記
Almost always describes alcoholic drinks, especially wine, cider, or whisky. Rarely used for food or non-alcoholic drinks.
6. made or built in a simple way without careful finishing, using basic materials a
made or built in a simple way without careful finishing, using basic materials and little attention to detail.
Christopher's rough coat was made of thick cheap material that kept him warm.
The children slept on rough wooden beds in the old mountain cabin.
collocation: rough wooden [furniture, shelter, bed]
The artist's early works were rough sketches on any paper she could find.
Amelia's family lived in a rough shelter built from old wood and metal.
- basic
describes something simple with no extra features
- crude
more negative; suggests something is poorly or roughly made
- unfinished
describes something that has not been fully completed or polished
用法筆記
Describes objects that are made simply and without effort to improve the appearance. Not the same as 'broken' or 'damaged' — the thing still works, it just does not look well finished.
7. (of a voice or a sound) harsh, loud, and not pleasant to listen to.
(of a voice or a sound) harsh, loud, and not pleasant to listen to.
Mira's voice sounded rough after she shouted all afternoon at the match.
sound/look/feel + rough for sensory quality
The rough noise from the broken speaker made it hard to hear the news.
Christopher tried to soften his rough tone when speaking to the young child.
A rough scraping sound came from behind the wall late at night.
- smooth
of a voice / sound — even, steady, and pleasant to hear
常見錯誤
8. (of an engine or machine) making uneven, unpleasant noises because something is
(of an engine or machine) making uneven, unpleasant noises because something is broken or needs care.
Nora knew the car engine was rough because it shook and made a loud knocking sound.
rough engine / rough motor — describing machinery in poor condition
The washing machine sounded rough, so Sahil called a repairman the next morning.
A rough sound from the old fan meant it was time to buy a new one.
The boat's motor felt rough after the long trip across the lake.
- smooth
of an engine — running evenly and quietly without problems
用法筆記
This sense is restricted to machines and engines. To describe a voice or a general unpleasant sound, use sense 7 (SOUND) instead.
常見錯誤
9. involving violence, danger, or crime; describing a place or situation where peop
involving violence, danger, or crime; describing a place or situation where people may get hurt or treated badly.
Hoa was warned not to walk alone at night in that rough part of town.
rough + area / neighbourhood / part of town — describing a dangerous place
Aoi got into a rough fight outside the club and ended up with a black eye.
Life was rough for the street children, who had no one to protect them.
The prison was known as a rough place where new inmates had to be very careful.
- safe
free from danger, violence, or crime
用法筆記
While this sense often describes places (rough neighbourhood) or situations (rough fight), it can also describe people: a rough crowd means a group likely to cause trouble.
常見錯誤
10. (of the weather, water conditions, or a sea journey) marked by very strong winds
(of the weather, water conditions, or a sea journey) marked by very strong winds, high waves, and dangerous movement that makes travel risky.
The fishing boats stayed in the harbour because the sea was too rough.
the sea / the water / the waves + is/are rough — weather/sea conditions
Élise felt sick when the ocean became rough during the ferry ride.
Rough weather forced the airport to close for several hours on Tuesday.
The sailors prepared for a rough night as the wind grew stronger after sunset.
- calm
of weather or the sea — quiet, with light winds and smooth water
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 9 (VIOLENT): rough weather is not morally violent — it is physically wild and dangerous. A rough sea has big waves; a rough neighbourhood has crime.
常見錯誤
11. full of difficulty, problems, or unpleasant experiences — used about a period of
full of difficulty, problems, or unpleasant experiences — used about a period of time or a situation.
Cyrus had a rough time at work after his manager left the company suddenly.
have a rough time / have a rough day — common fixed phrases
The family next door went through a rough period when the father lost his job.
It was a rough year for small shops in the town centre after the new mall opened.
Kwame found it rough to adjust to a new school in a different country.
- easy
not difficult or unpleasant; smooth and comfortable
用法筆記
This sense is always about a period, situation, or experience — not about a task or object being difficult to do. You have a rough day, but you do not have rough homework.
常見錯誤
12. not feeling well; slightly ill or unwell — used after verbs such as feel, look,
not feeling well; slightly ill or unwell — used after verbs such as feel, look, or sound.
David felt rough after eating something that had gone bad in the fridge.
feel rough — informal British expression for feeling unwell
The teacher looked rough and said she would go home to rest for the day.
Kemi sounded rough on the phone, so her friend offered to bring her soup.
The child looked rough this morning, so the nurse took her temperature straight away.
- fine
feeling well and healthy
用法筆記
Frequently used with linking verbs (feel, look, sound, seem). Cannot be placed before a noun (you cannot say a rough person to mean a sick person). This usage is British and informal; in American English, rough is not commonly used for illness.
常見錯誤
rough — adverb
1. in a way that uses physical force, not gently or carefully — for example, childr
in a way that uses physical force, not gently or carefully — for example, children playing too roughly with each other, or someone handling an object without care.
The older boys were playing rough in the park and accidentally hurt a toddler.
play rough — informal collocation
Hiro's coach told the team they were training too rough and needed to slow down.
Marta warned the movers not to handle her grandmother's antique cabinet rough.
It was clear the players were treating each other too rough during warm-up.
- roughly
the standard adverb form; 'rough' is only used in informal fixed phrases
- violently
stronger connotation of causing harm; more formal than 'rough'
- forcefully
neutral register; broader meaning including non-physical force
文法句型
play rough
handle [sth] rough
treat [sb] rough
用法筆記
Frequently occurs in fixed informal collocations such as 'play rough', 'handle [something] rough', and 'treat [someone] rough'. This adverbial use is not used in formal writing — use 'roughly' instead.
常見錯誤
2. living or sleeping outdoors without basic comforts such as a bed, shelter, or ru
living or sleeping outdoors without basic comforts such as a bed, shelter, or running water — often used to describe people who have no home or are camping in a very basic way.
After losing his job, Tunde had nowhere to go and slept rough for three months.
sleep rough — collocation for living homeless
The charity provides hot meals for people who sleep rough during the cold winter.
Apinya's grandfather once lived rough for a year while travelling through Southeast Asia.
Owen could not believe his cousin chose to live rough in a tent all summer.
文法句型
sleep rough
live rough
用法筆記
Used primarily with the verbs 'sleep' and 'live' in the fixed phrases 'sleep rough' and 'live rough'. The subject is typically a person who lacks housing or chooses to live without modern amenities.