salt in the wound
Something that increases someone's pain.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Losing the game was bad, but his comments added salt in the wound.”
“She already felt terrible about failing the test, so his criticism was just salt in the wound.”
“The company's decision to fire him on his birthday served as salt in the wound after he had already lost his promotion.”
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Attic salt
Pointed and delicate wit.
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covenant of salt
A long-lasting agreement.
- 03
lick one's wounds
To withdraw temporarily while recovering from a defeat; to recuperate.
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not worth salt
Worthless.
- 05
old salt
A seasoned sailor, especially one who is hardy and forthright in manner.
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put a band-aid on a bullet wound
To inadequately treat a serious situation.
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reopen old wounds
To cause the memory of past trauma to be recalled, resulting in renewed suffering.
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rub salt in someone's wounds
To make a painful situation even worse (even with the best of intentions).
Last updated August 10, 2026