rub in

British  

verb

1. to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbed

2. informal to harp on (something distasteful to a person, of which he or she does not wish to be reminded)

---

rub in Idioms  

1. Also, rub it in. Harp on something, especially an unpleasant matter, as in She always rubs in the fact that she graduated with honors and I didn't, or I know I forgot your birthday, but don't keep rubbing it in. This idiom alludes to the expression rub salt into a wound, an action that makes the wound more painful; it dates from medieval times and remains current. [Mid-1800s] Also see rub someone's nose in it.

---

Example Sentences

And if you’re a hairy man, be sure to carefully rub in the sunscreen, says Stacy P. Salob, clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College.

From Washington Post • Apr. 16, 2023

My mom warned me against trying to rub in the detergent, which she explained might actually remove the color of the jeans themselves.

From Salon • Jul. 28, 2022

To sleep, perchance to dream the same ominous dream being shared by three complete strangers — ay, there’s the rub in the new mystery drama “Falling Water.” 10 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2016

Now, employees will add the rub in sealed bags so they don’t directly handle raw meat. Workers now marinate meat after restaurants close to avoid possible contamination with food prepared during the day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2016

Did she really need to rub in her first-place reign?

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• accentuate
• affirm
• assert
• highlight
• indicate
• maintain
• point out
• reiterate
• repeat
• underline
• underscore