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)

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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.

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Example Sentences

The rub, in critics’ eyes, is that Apple previously had installed no functionality on devices that would give it access to user photos — under any circumstances.

From Washington Post

And there is the rub in all of this, because investors who expect big returns have to do something most are loathe to do in order to achieve them, namely take on big risks.

From Seattle Times

Mineral sunscreens tend to take longer to rub in and appear chalkier than chemical ones, which tend to rub in easier, feel less noticeable on and blend in better with the skin.

From New York Times

Wirecutter testing has found that chemical sunscreens with active ingredients including avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone tend to feel lighter on the skin, rub in easier and appear less visible.

From New York Times

"Maybe the audience might be predominantly conservative, but I don't know that the artistry is; that the community is so there’s a rub in there."

From Fox News

Related Words

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