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Idioms of the day: "Don't rub it in!" & "Get my head around!"

Average: 2.8 (12 votes)

Here's part of a conversation I overheard in the office this morning.

Person A: "This is the last day of the week for me. I'm going on holiday, but you'll all be working."
Person B: "OK, don't rub it in!"
Person A: "I'll leave this report with you while I'm away. I can't get my head around it!"

This brief conversation includes two great idioms that I'm pretty sure we haven't looked at before. It also shows how often idioms are used in informal English and how important they are for you to learn.

Don't rub it in

When we say something to rub it in, we say something to make someone feel even worse about something.
"OK, I know I made a big mistake, - you don't have to rub it in. Please don't keep mentioning it."
"Don't say anything to Jack about Sarah getting the promotion instead of him. He feels bad about it, so don't rub it in."

Get my head around something

This idiom is usually used for negative things. It means that you are able to understand something difficult or confusing.
"I've read this document three times and I still don't understand it. I can't get my head around it at all!"
"I can't get my head around why he bought such a big car. He lives in London a small car would be better in all the traffic."

Task 1: Tell us about a time you had to say to someone "don't rub it in!".
Task 2: Tell us about something that you can't get your head around.

Link: Idiom of the day" 'You've Been Had'