# rub in

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rub-in
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to keep talking about someone's mistake or failure to make them feel bad. You use this when someone won't stop reminding you of something embarrassing.

For teachers: to emphasize or repeat an unpleasant fact or a mistake to someone, typically to cause annoyance or humiliation. The verb is often used transitively with 'it' as a dummy object referring to the situation.

## Examples

- I know I failed the test, so please don't rub it in.
- After Sarah missed the winning goal, her brother kept rubbing it in by replaying the video of her mistake.
- While the defeat was already public knowledge, the opposition leader sought to rub it in by detailing every strategic error made during the campaign.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He rubbed in me my mistake." but "He rubbed my mistake in." — The person being annoyed is not the direct object; the mistake or the situation is the object.

## Usage notes

- Usually used with 'it' as the object to refer to the embarrassing situation.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'gloat'; while gloating is feeling smug, 'rubbing it in' is the active verbal behavior of making the other person feel the failure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.