Her positive attitude 'rubbed off' on other people. [=other people began to have a positive attitude from being around her]
We 'rubbed' the steaks with spices before we grilled them. = We 'rubbed' spices onto the steaks before we grilled them.
It's bad enough that he beat me, but the way he keeps talking about it is just 'rubbing salt in the wound'.
(..) Is that what you're doin'? Don't you sharpshoot me. You'll give me . Then you're gonna give me more. Then you're gonna pull K.P., the grease pit! I'll rub your nose in enlisted men's crud till you don't know which end is up! You understand? Yeah. What do you want? What do you mean, what do I want? (..)1992 Scent of a Woman