Writers use “grubby” to evoke a tangible sense of filth or neglect in both people and places, while sometimes hinting at a moral or ironic undertone. In some works, the word underscores a character’s disheveled appearance or the griminess of their surroundings, as seen when a town is depicted as small and grubby ([1]) or a face as grimy and grubby ([2], [3]). In other instances, it conveys the unseemly nature of daily tasks or behaviors—from grubby hands interfering with delicate affairs ([4]) to the reference of grubby work ([5]) that speaks to a world weighted by toil and lowliness. Such varied usage allows authors to paint vivid, relatable portraits of struggle, decay, or even humor in everyday life ([6], [7]).