Road rash and gravel rash are two idioms that mean the same thing. We will examine the meaning of the phrases road rash and gravel rash, where they came from, and some examples of their use in sentences.
Road rash is an idiom that means an abrasion to the skin caused by coming in contact with a sidewalk or road surface. A road rash is often the result of falling off a bicycle, skateboard, skates, or motorcycle. A runner or walker who trips and falls may also get a road rash. The phrase road rash came into use in the 1960s and is primarily used in American English. The plural form is road rashes.
Gravel rash is also an idiom that means an abrasion to the skin caused by coming in contact with a sidewalk or road surface. The expression gravel rash is primarily used in British English and can be traced to the story Kim written by Rudyard Kipling in 1901. The plural form is gravel rashes.
Examples
Ambulance personnel told him Reed had suffered a broken right femur and had road rash on both of his arms and his chest. (The Gasconade County Republican)
According to the lawsuit, Los Angeles resident Lisa Beardslee suffered a broken wrist, road rash and injuries to her neck and shoulder when a Bird scooter’s brakes failed at an intersection in the Mid-City neighborhood of Los Angeles. (The Santa Monica Daily Press)
Foolhardy thrill seeker gets a bad case of gravel rash as is sent flying from his dirt bike after doing a burnout in front of a pub (The Daily Mail)
“I’ve got bruises on both sides, a black eye, gravel rash and I’ve split my eyebrow.” (Cycling Weekly)