1 B1 idiomatic informal
To repeatedly mention or emphasise someone's mistake, failure, or misfortune, making them feel worse.
"I know I didn't get the promotion — you don't have to rub it in."
inseparable
rub it in
B1 informal inseparable transitive
To keep reminding someone of an unpleasant mistake, failure, or embarrassment, causing further distress.
In plain English
To keep talking about someone's mistake or bad luck when they already feel bad about it.
What does "rub it in" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically rub something into a surface — the idiomatic sense derives from rubbing an unpleasant substance (like salt) into a wound.
Actually means
To keep talking about someone's mistake or bad luck when they already feel bad about it.
Usage tip
Always used figuratively. The 'it' is fixed and cannot be replaced by another pronoun in the idiomatic sense. Often used in the imperative 'don't rub it in!' Common in spoken English across all varieties.
Words that pair with "rub it in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
mistake failure loss embarrassment defeat
How to conjugate "rub it in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
rub it in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rubs it in
he/she/it
Past simple
rubed it in
yesterday
Past participle
rubed it in
have + pp
-ing form
rubing it in
continuous
Hear "rub it in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "rub it in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.