Rub it in

Neil Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Neil and joining me in this programme is Feifei.

Feifei Hi.

Neil Beautiful day today, isn’t it? Blazing sunshine… it’s so warm.

Feifei Yes it is, and luckily for you your shift is finished after this programme, isn’t it?

Neil Yep! But you have to stay here till evening on the late shift. Ahhh… I’m off to the park to enjoy the sun. I’d better buy some sun cream, eh?

Feifei Don’t rub it in!

Neil OK. See you later.

Voice Two hours later.

Feifei My word, Neil! What’s happened to you? You look like a lobster!

Neil It’s very hot and sunny out there.

Feifei But what about the sun cream?

Neil You told me ‘not to rub it in’, Feifei!

Feifei
OK, I think I need to explain something. We use the expression ‘to rub something in’ when a person keeps mentioning something another person wants to forget. When I said ‘don’t rub it in’ I was fed up of hearing about your wonderful afternoon in the sun while I’m stuck here in the office!

Neil Ah. So I actually should have rubbed in this sun cream. Let’s hear some examples…

Examples Don’t rub it in. I know you beat me at tennis but you don’t have to keep mentioning the score.

Carlos got into Oxford but I didn’t. That’s bad enough, but he keeps rubbing it in by talking about it all the time.

Feifei This is The English We Speak and in this programme we’re learning the phrase to ‘rub it in’. If a person ‘rubs it in’, it means they keep mentioning something another person wants to forget.

Neil I want to forget that I’ve got such a terrible sunburn.

Feifei Well I won’t rub it in and talk about that sun cream you should have…

Neil …should have rubbed in. Thanks Feifei. Ouch!

Feifei Bye!

Neil Bye!