twists the knife
Adds to pain
To twist the knife is to deliberately worsen someone's pain or humiliation, especially emotional.
The image is of a wound already inflicted—twisting the blade intensifies the suffering.
Someone might twist the knife by mentioning an ex's new relationship to a heartbroken friend: She lost the promotion, and he twisted the knife by asking if she'd train her replacement.
- rub salt in the woundDeliberately worsen someone's distress
- turn the screwIntensify pressure or coercion
- guilt-trippingInducing remorse deliberately
- add insult to injuryWorsen harm with mockery
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
make it worse · provoking · anguish · shaming · heartbreak · misery · undermining · humiliating · mocking · gaslighting · agony · despair · retaliation · pour fuel on the fire · belittling · cut to the quick · hit below the belt · antagonism
twists the knifecomforts
Eases distress; pleasures
consoles · eases the pain · softens the blow · soothes · bites one's tongue
twists the knifepours oil on troubled waters
Eases strife between parties
makes amends · mends fences · builds bridges · looks the other way
twist, twists, twisted, twisting, twister, twisters, knife, knives, knifed