rub someone's nose in it

rub (one's) nose in it

To remind one of one's failures or wrongdoings. Whenever I make a mistake, my obnoxious co-worker is always eager to rub my nose in it.See also: nose, rub

rub someone's nose in it

Bring something, especially an error or fault, repeatedly and forcefully to someone's attention. For example, I know I was wrong, but don't rub my nose in it. This expression alludes to the unkind practice of housebreaking a dog by rubbing its nose in its feces. [Mid-1900s] See also: nose, rub

rub someone's nose in it

or

rub someone's nose in the dirt

INFORMALCOMMON If you rub someone's nose in it or rub their nose in the dirt, you embarrass or upset them by reminding them of something that they do not want to think about, such as a failure or a mistake that they have made. Okay, I got it wrong — there's no need to rub my nose it it! Sometimes the winners could not resist rubbing the enemy's nose in the dirt.See also: nose, rub