Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

therein lies the rub

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.30 in modern English

Syllables
there-in lies the rub
IPA
25
Scrabble Score
17
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

That is where the problem is found or located.

Example Sentences

Etymology

A misquotation or paraphrasing from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "ay, there's the rub".

Inflected Forms

there lies the rub (alternative) there is the rub (alternative) there's the rub (alternative)

Phrases

thereby hangs a tale where the shoe pinches

Frequently Paired Words

thereby hangs a tale where the shoe pinches

Questions

What does therein lies the rub mean?
That is where the problem is found or located.
Where does therein lies the rub come from?
A misquotation or paraphrasing from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "ay, there's the rub".

How to pronounce therein lies the rub

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “therein lies the rub”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “therein lies the rub”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “therein lies the rub” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.