rub salt in a wound
rub salt in(to) the/(one's) wound(s)
To make something that is already difficult, unpleasant, or painful even worse; to accentuate, aggravate, or intensify a negative situation, emotion, or experience (for someone). After losing the championship match, it really rubbed salt in John's wound for his girlfriend to break up with him the next day. My pride was already hurting when I didn't get the job, but hearing that they gave it to Dave really rubbed salt into the wound. I can't believe you would ask me to pay you back on the day that I got laid off. Thanks for rubbing salt in my wounds, man.
See also: rub, salt
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
rub salt in a wound
Fig. to deliberately make someone's unhappiness, shame, or misfortune worse. Don't rub salt in the wound by telling me how enjoyable the party was. Bill is feeling miserable about losing his job and Bob is rubbing salt into the wound by saying how good his replacement is.
See also: rub, salt, wound
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- pour salt in(to) the/(one's) wound(s)
- pour salt on(to) the/(one's) wound(s)
- rub salt in(to) the/(one's) wound(s)
- rub salt into the wound
- rub salt into the wound/into somebody's wounds
- go from bad to worse
- find (something) out the hard way
- from bad to worse
- hard way, the
- come to a bad/sticky end