added insult to injury
Worsened then mocked
To add insult to injury is to make a bad situation worse by compounding harm with humiliation or additional offense.
The phrase emphasizes that beyond the original damage, something has made the victim feel disrespected or mocked: They fired him, and to add insult to injury, made him train his replacement.
Added insult to injury is the past-tense form of this expression.
- rub salt in the woundDeliberately worsen someone's distress
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- pour fuel on the fireDeliberately worsen tensions
- add fuel to fireAggravate an existing problem
- twist the knifeIntensify someone's anguish deliberately
humiliation · escalation · aggravation · disrespect · low blow · cheap shot · deterioration · exacerbation · shame · throw shade · rub it in · antagonism · resentment · make matters worse · pile on · frustration · indignation · final straw
added insult to injurymade amends
Compensated for wrongdoing
rubbed salt in the wound · twisted the knife · made matters worse · poured oil on troubled waters · added fuel to the fire
added insult to injuryevery cloud has a silver lining
snatched victory from the jaws of defeat · compensated · looked on the bright side
adding, added, addition, additional, additionally, insult, insults, insulting, insulted