twist the knife
Deepen the wound
To twist the knife is to deliberately worsen someone's emotional pain, especially after already causing hurt.
The image is of a stabber not just wounding but rotating the blade to inflict maximum damage.
Someone twists the knife by bringing up painful details unnecessarily or rubbing in a humiliation: After firing him, she twisted the knife by mentioning his replacement was twenty years younger.
- exacerbateMake a situation worse
- aggravateMake more severe
- worsenBecome more severe
- intensifyIncrease in degree
- turn the screwIntensify pressure or coercion
prolong · rub salt in the wound · rub it in · vindictive · drag out · make matters worse · cruel · spiteful · kick someone when they are down · hit below the belt · go for the jugular · heighten · add insult to injury · sting · push buttons · malicious · venomous · mock
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- adding insult to injuryrub it in, make it worse, aggravate, worsen, exacerbate
- turn phrasesabout face, turn the tables, turn a blind eye, turn over a new leaf, turn the corner
twist the knifesoothe
Gently ease discomfort
console · comfort · show mercy · be gentle · soften the blow
twist the knifelet it go
Cease fixating on something
turn the other cheek · forgive and forget · bite one's tongue · give someone a break · cut someone slack
twist, twists, twisted, twisting, twister, twisters, knife, knives, knifed