rubbing salt in the wound
Adding insult unnecessarily
Rubbing salt in the wound is making a painful situation worse, especially by drawing attention to it or adding insult to injury.
The image is of literal salt pressed into raw flesh—intensifying pain that already exists: Losing was bad enough, but having to watch the other team celebrate was rubbing salt in the wound.
- aggravateMake more severe
- intensifyIncrease in degree
- twisting the knifeIntensifying someone's distress deliberately
- gloatingSmug triumph display
- humiliationLoss of dignity
adding insult to injury · twisting the blade · digging the knife deeper · piling on · mockery · provocation · low blow · escalation · cruelty · condescension · taunting · insensitivity · shaming · throwing shade · making matters worse · disregard · instigation · antagonism
rubbing salt in the woundpouring oil on troubled waters
Calming a dispute
soothing · consoling · comforting · lending support · healing touch
rubbing salt in the woundmaking amends
Compensating for wrongdoing
building bridges · burying the hatchet · letting bygones be bygones · water under the bridge · damage control
rubbing salt in the woundhandling with kid gloves
Treating with excessive gentleness
rubbed, rubber, rubbing, salted, salting, saltiness, wounds, wounded, wounding