piles on

Adds more still

To pile on is to add more of something, usually in excess.

The phrase often describes criticism, blame, or difficulties accumulating: After the scandal broke, everyone piled on.

It can also mean joining an attack already underway—when someone is down, others pile on.

In sports, players pile on after a tackle.

The bad news just kept piling on.

Related

overwhelm · heap · ridicule · throws shade · over the top · overload · too much · last straw · snowballing · ganging up · escalation · burden · mob mentality · layer · bandwagoning · suffocates · buries · pressure

Opposites
accumulation/quantity

piles onremoves

Takes something out

takes away · clears off · takes off · strips away · subtracts

criticism/attack intensity

piles ondefends

Acts to protect

backs off · lays off · holds back · eases up · lets up

restraint/moderation

piles onholds back

Restrains or delays

tones down · eases up · downplays · underplays · plays down

Family

pile, piled, pileup, piling, unpile, piling on

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G