roughing up
nounUK /ˌrʌfɪŋ ˈʌp/
US /ˌrʌfɪŋ ˈʌp/
The act of pushing or hitting someone to scare or hurt them.
The bullies were arrested for roughing up a classmate after school.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Making something rough or uneven in texture.
The roughing up of the wall gave it a rustic look.
3. Treating someone harshly to make them more obedient or cooperative.
The coach was accused of roughing up his players during practice.
4. Damaging or scuffing a surface through careless handling.
The roughing up of the package happened during shipping.