make matters worse
Aggravate the situation
To make matters worse is to add another problem to an already difficult situation.
The phrase usually introduces an additional complication: The car broke down, and to make matters worse, it started raining.
It signals that bad circumstances are compounding.
- add insult to injuryWorsen harm with mockery
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
- fan the flamesDeliberately worsen a dispute
- backfireYield unintended consequences
- snowball effectAccelerating cumulative increase
deteriorate · add fuel to the fire · downward spiral · inflame · compound · intensify · do more harm than good · amplify · deepen · heighten · trouble · catastrophe · fuel · dig · damage · provoke · rub · downhill
make matters worseameliorate
Make less severe
make it better · alleviate · right the ship · set things right · patch things up
make matters worsedamage control
Limiting further harm
help · save the day · come to the rescue · lend a hand · pitch in
make, matter, worse, aggravate, escalate, worsen, complicate, exacerbate