rub salt in the wound
Aggravate existing pain
To rub salt in the wound is to make a painful situation worse, especially by drawing attention to it or adding insult to injury.
The image is of aggravating an open cut with salt: Losing was bad enough, but having to watch them celebrate really rubbed salt in the wound.
Sometimes shortened to rub it in.
- aggravateMake more severe
- worsenBecome more severe
- complicateMake more difficult
- embitterCause deep resentment
- add insult to injuryWorsen harm with mockery
gloating · schadenfreude · pain · intensify · exasperate · suffering · rub it in · rub someone's nose in it · magnify · provoke · add fuel to the fire · heighten · escalate · pile on · below the belt · cheap shot · condescension · make matters worse
rub salt in the woundsoothe
Gently ease discomfort
console · comfort · pour oil on troubled waters · soften the blow · lend support
rubbed, rubbing, rubber, salted, salting, saltiness, wound, wounds, wounded