sub

Everyday

1. (informal) A sub is a substitute, a player who comes on to replace another in a match. tree →
2. (informal) A sub is a submarine. tree →
3. (US) A sub is a long sandwich, a submarine sandwich. tree →
4. (informal) A sub is a substitute teacher (US, Canada) or supply teacher. tree →
5. (informal) A sub is a subscription, money paid to a club. tree →
6. (informal, UK) To sub someone is to lend them a little money. tree →
7. Sub- is a prefix meaning under or below: submarine, subway, subtract. tree →
8. In old books, sub is a Latin word meaning under, as in sub anno, which means under that year. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and sport subs sit on the bench and come on later. In maths sub- appears in subtract (take away) and subtotal (part of a total). In everyday life in North America people buy subs for lunch. In clubs members pay their subs. Phrases: come on as a sub, sub in.

Examples

• The coach brought on a sub in the second half. tree →
• We had a sub today because Mr Brown was ill. tree →
• I'd like a turkey sub, please. tree →
• The sub dived under the waves. tree →
• (UK, informal) Can you sub me a quid till Friday? tree →
• Have you paid your subs for football club? tree →
• «Subtract» means take away. tree →
• Matthew Paris tells the story, sub anno (it is an addition of his to Ralph Disset), Hist. tree →

Note

Short, informal form of several words — read the context. Plural: subs. Verb: subbed, subbing (double b). In maths sub- means under or less: subtract = take away; a subtotal is a part total before adding the rest.