<p>A <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubber#Etymology_2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rubber</a> is a series that consists of an odd number of matches where a majority of wins takes the series.  For example, in baseball, the World Series is an example of a rubber; the team that wins 4 games out of 7 wins the series.  Rubber bridge is a form of contract bridge where the teams play best out of three games.  (Wiktionary lists this the etymology of this definition of rubber as "unknown."  If you want more information, <a href="https://english.stackexchange.com/">English Language &amp; Usage</a> would be a good place to ask.)</p>

<p>The <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubber_match" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rubber match</a> is a match that decides a series after a tie.  For example, in this year's World Series, after 6 games the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals were tied 3-3.  The last game on October 29 was the rubber match, and the winner, San Francisco, won the series.  In rubber bridge, the rubber match is the third game.</p>

<p>A <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dead_rubber" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dead rubber</a> is a match in a series that has already been decided, but the match is still played.  In the World Series, this doesn't happen; once a team has four wins, no more games are played.  However, this term is used in other sports, such as some tennis tournaments, cricket, or the FIFA World Cup.  For example, in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, you might have a match at the end of the group stage where it is already known which teams will advance to the knockout stage before the match begins.  This is a dead rubber match, and no matter who wins, the result of the tournament doesn't change.</p>

<p>In rubber bridge, the rubber is over when one team has won two games, so I don't think that "dead rubber" is a bridge term.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-25T22:59:36.827Z
To note: The term does not appear at all in *The Complete Encyclopedia of Bridge, 6th Edition (2001)*, under either *Rubber, dead* or *Dead rubber*.
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-26T01:54:49.160Z
I do know that dead rubber is a generic sporting term used in several sports (football, cricket etc). I just wanted to know why the series is called 'rubber'. A 'dead rubber' is of course a 'rubber' that has lost any significance (except statistically).
Yaitzme
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-26T04:13:49.783Z
@Yaitzme I've just asked [a question on English.SE](http://english.stackexchange.com/q/210379/49773) about the etymology of "rubber" (not "dead rubber").  We'll see how well that question is received.
Ben Miller
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-24T03:03:45.230Z
2014-11-25T13:53:02.563Z
2017-04-13T12:38:09.400Z
Ben Miller
<p>What's the etymology of the phrase "dead rubber". Googling attributes it to some obscure bridge reference, but I don't seem to understand it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-25T14:18:00.347Z
I agree with the current answer, while the term "rubber" is used in bridge, I don't think the term "dead rubber" has any relation to bridge.
bwarner
<bridge>
"Dead Rubber" definitive etymology
Yaitzme
# "Dead Rubber" definitive etymology

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-23)

What's the etymology of the phrase "dead rubber". Googling attributes it to some obscure bridge reference, but I don't seem to understand it.

**Tags:** bridge

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I agree with the current answer, while the term "rubber" is used in bridge, I don't think the term "dead rubber" has any relation to bridge.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-11-24. Score: 2

A [rubber](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubber#Etymology_2) is a series that consists of an odd number of matches where a majority of wins takes the series. For example, in baseball, the World Series is an example of a rubber; the team that wins 4 games out of 7 wins the series. Rubber bridge is a form of contract bridge where the teams play best out of three games. (Wiktionary lists this the etymology of this definition of rubber as "unknown." If you want more information, [English Language & Usage](https://english.stackexchange.com/) would be a good place to ask.)

The [rubber match](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubber_match) is a match that decides a series after a tie. For example, in this year's World Series, after 6 games the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals were tied 3-3. The last game on October 29 was the rubber match, and the winner, San Francisco, won the series. In rubber bridge, the rubber match is the third game.

A [dead rubber](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dead_rubber) is a match in a series that has already been decided, but the match is still played. In the World Series, this doesn't happen; once a team has four wins, no more games are played. However, this term is used in other sports, such as some tennis tournaments, cricket, or the FIFA World Cup. For example, in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, you might have a match at the end of the group stage where it is already known which teams will advance to the knockout stage before the match begins. This is a dead rubber match, and no matter who wins, the result of the tournament doesn't change.

In rubber bridge, the rubber is over when one team has won two games, so I don't think that "dead rubber" is a bridge term.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: To note: The term does not appear at all in *The Complete Encyclopedia of Bridge, 6th Edition (2001)*, under either *Rubber, dead* or *Dead rubber*.  
> **username_0**: I do know that dead rubber is a generic sporting term used in several sports (football, cricket etc). I just wanted to know why the series is called 'rubber'. A 'dead rubber' is of course a 'rubber' that has lost any significance (except statistically).  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I've just asked [a question on English.SE](http://english.stackexchange.com/q/210379/49773) about the etymology of "rubber" (not "dead rubber").  We'll see how well that question is received.  

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