From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrub something/somebody ↔ down phrasal verb1 to make a surface smooth by rubbing it with sandpaper That door needs rubbing down before you paint it.2 to dry a person or animal by rubbing them with a cloth, towel etc The groom rubbed down the horses.3 to massage someone, especially after exercise → rub→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
rub down• It was rubbing up and down as if he were titillating an unseen erogenous zone.• They washed in smoke and heat, rubbing themselves down in their own sweat.• Léonie's hand rubbed up and down, kneaded, caressed.• Gavin's hand rubbed up and down on Janice's lap.• My job was to rub his back down with a rough towel when he came in.• I tried to rub him down with a wet towel, but he was delirious and hardly knew me.• Mo doesn't go to make-up, the Elstree Prop Department just rubs her down with sandpaper. 