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Rub In

What Does "Rub In" Mean?

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"Rub in" is an English idiom. It means "to emphasize or dwell on a point, fact, or criticism, often to an excessive or annoying degree; to remind someone of their mistakes or shortcomings."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "rub in" used in a sentence:
  • She didn't mean to rub in her success, but her constant boasting about her achievements became tiresome to her friends.
  • He regretted letting his disappointment show because it gave his parents the chance to rub in their warnings about his career choice.
  • Rubbing in the failure of the project wasn't productive; instead, they focused on learning from their mistakes and moving forward.
meaning for rub in

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Rub In" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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