reopen old wounds
Resurface past hurts
To reopen old wounds is to revive painful memories or past grievances that had begun to heal.
The metaphor treats emotional hurt like a physical injury—mentioning a failed marriage, a betrayal, or a family conflict can tear open what time had started to close: Seeing her ex at the reunion reopened old wounds.
Often used as a caution against revisiting certain topics.
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
painful memories · dispute · grudges · bad blood · unhealed · quarrel · dredge up · resentment · betrayal · family secrets · air dirty laundry · sorrow · confrontation · shame · guilt · cuts · regret · let sleeping dogs lie
reopen old woundsforgive and forget
Absolve and dismiss resentment
come to terms with · mend fences · reconcile · recover · find peace
reopen old woundslet go
Cease holding something
move on · let bygones be bygones · turn the page · water under the bridge · bury the hatchet
reopen old woundsmake amends
Compensate for wrongdoing
bury the hatchet · make peace · patch things up · build bridges · reconcile
reopen, open, wounds, wound, reopened, reopening, reopens, opened, opening