making matters worse
Adding to trouble
Making matters worse introduces an action or development that compounds an existing problem.
The phrase signals that a bad situation is about to get worse: The power went out, and making matters worse, we had no candles.
Often shortened to worse yet or to make matters worse.
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- adding fuel to the fireIntensifying existing tension
- backfiringProducing opposite results
- shooting oneself in the footUnintentionally causing own failure
- compoundingElements merging progressively
undermining · inflaming · provoking · ignoring · miscalculating · aggravating · rubbing salt in the wound · overlooking · retaliating · escalating · mishandling · obstructing · neglecting · overreacting · dismissing · sabotaging · doubling down · complicating
effect on a situation
making matters worsehelping
Single portion given
ameliorating · damage control · mitigating · picking up the pieces · healing
makes, maker, makers, making, remake, remaking, matter, matters, mattered