Rub it in: The English We Speak

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...

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!