Rub salt into the wound
verb phrase
To make a difficult situation even worse for someone.
After being fired, not receiving his final paycheck was like rubbing salt into the wound.
Often appears as...
- just to rub salt into the wound
- like rubbing salt into the wound
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To make a difficult situation even worse for someone.
After being fired, not receiving his final paycheck was like rubbing salt into the wound.
Often appears as...
- just to rub salt into the wound
- like rubbing salt into the wound
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
The phrase often expresses frustration, anger, or bitterness when someone's bad situation is made worse.
When she mocked my cooking after I burned dinner, it really rubbed salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 2/3Figurative Use
This phrase is figurative, not literal. It's about emotional, not physical, pain.
Losing the game was bad, but his taunting afterwards was like rubbing salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 3/3Inappropriate Situations
Avoid using the phrase in formal or sensitive contexts as it may seem disrespectful or too casual.
During the eulogy, he made a joke that just rubbed salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
The phrase often expresses frustration, anger, or bitterness when someone's bad situation is made worse.
When she mocked my cooking after I burned dinner, it really rubbed salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 2/3Figurative Use
This phrase is figurative, not literal. It's about emotional, not physical, pain.
Losing the game was bad, but his taunting afterwards was like rubbing salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 3/3Inappropriate Situations
Avoid using the phrase in formal or sensitive contexts as it may seem disrespectful or too casual.
During the eulogy, he made a joke that just rubbed salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
The phrase often expresses frustration, anger, or bitterness when someone's bad situation is made worse.
When she mocked my cooking after I burned dinner, it really rubbed salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 2/3Figurative Use
This phrase is figurative, not literal. It's about emotional, not physical, pain.
Losing the game was bad, but his taunting afterwards was like rubbing salt into the wound.
Pro Tip 3/3Inappropriate Situations
Avoid using the phrase in formal or sensitive contexts as it may seem disrespectful or too casual.
During the eulogy, he made a joke that just rubbed salt into the wound.
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