Rub salt into the wound

Pro Tip 1/3

Negative 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 2/3

Figurative 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 3/3

Inappropriate 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.