If you rub a substance in, you press it into something by continuously moving it over its surface.
When hair is dry, rub in a little oil to make it smooth and glossy. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
If someone keeps reminding you of something you would rather forget you can say that they are rubbingitin.
Officials couldn't resist rubbing it in. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
The home side rubbed in their superiority with a further goal. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
See full dictionary entry for rub
rub in in British English
verb(tr, adverb)
1.
to spread with pressure, esp in order to cause to be absorbed
2. rub it in
Examples of 'rub in' in a sentence
rub in
In the end what Christian did was stamp around the place where the blood had been, trying to rub in some of the dirt from his shoes.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
`But it's all right to clean my hands up later and maybe rub in some of that lotion I brought with me, isn't it, Ma?
Andrews, Virginia WEB OF DREAMS
All related terms of 'rub in'
rub it in
to harp on (something distasteful to a person, of which he or she does not wish to be reminded )
don't rub it in
said to mean that someone should not draw attention to something that is unpleasant or embarrassing for you
rub someone's nose in
to keep reminding someone of something unpleasant , as a mistake made
rub someone's nose in it
to embarrass or upset someone by reminding them of something that they do not want to think about, such as a failure or a mistake that they have made
to rub someone's nose in it
To rub someone's nose in something that they do not want to think about, such as a failing or a mistake they have made, means to remind them repeatedly about it.
rub sb's nose in sth to rub someone's nose in it
To rub someone's nose in something that they do not want to think about, such as a failing or a mistake they have made, means to remind them repeatedly about it.