rub it in
B1 informal inseparable transitive
In simple words
To keep talking about someone's mistake or bad luck when they already feel bad about it.
Literal meaning: To physically rub something into a surface — the idiomatic sense derives from rubbing an unpleasant substance (like salt) into a wound.
Meanings
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."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
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.
Commonly used with
mistake failure loss embarrassment defeat
Forms
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
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