rub in

verb

1. to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbed
2. rub it in informal.
   rub it in to harp on (something distasteful to a person, of which he or she does not wish to be reminded)

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Related Words

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