# salt in the wound

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/salt-in-the-wound
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something that increases someone's pain.

## Examples

- 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.