adds insult to injury
Piles on needlessly
To add insult to injury is to make a bad situation worse by compounding it with something additionally offensive or hurtful.
The phrase suggests a double blow: first the original harm, then a second affront that feels deliberately cruel or thoughtlessly dismissive.
The company laid off workers right before the holidays, and added insult to injury by cutting their severance packages.
It often implies that the second offense, while perhaps lesser in magnitude, stings more because it follows the first.
- rub salt in the woundDeliberately worsen someone's distress
- rub it inEmphasize someone's mistake cruelly
- insensitivityLack of emotional awareness
- pour fuel on the fireDeliberately worsen tensions
- add fuel to the fireWorsen an already tense situation
betrayal · anger · humiliation · mockery · stir the pot · frustration · make matters worse · make it worse · vindictiveness · aggravation · double whammy · final straw · indignation · throw shade · twist the knife · cruelty · resentment · retaliation
adds insult to injurymakes amends
Compensates for wrongdoing
softens the blow · eases the pain · pours oil on troubled waters · compensates · atones
adds insult to injuryconsoles
Provides comfort to
comforts · softens the blow · sympathizes · soothes · eases the pain
adding, addition, additional, additionally, additive, insult, insults, insulted, insulting