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'.
(..) their tongue stroked. Wait a minute. You want me to take my hand, Stick it in his mouth, and rub his tongue? Yeah, eventually. I Don't think so. You'll learn to read him. You'll be able (..)1993 Free Willy