rʌb sɔːlt ˈɪntuː ˈsʌmwʌnz wuːndz
Body Parts
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- Applying salt to open wounds
What does "rub salt into someone's wounds" mean?
- To make a bad situation worse
- To add to someone's pain or problems
Examples
- Mentioning her ex at the party really rubbed salt into her wounds.
- To rub salt into the wound, they gave his promotion to a newcomer.
- Don't rub salt into my wounds—I know I failed.
Origin
From the extreme pain of salt in open wounds. Salt was sometimes used to punish or torture in ancient times.
How to use it
Strong expression indicating someone is making things worse, often deliberately.
Similar expressions
add insult to injury
make matters worse
twist the knife
Opposites
offer comfort
console
soothe
Related idioms
- keep an eye on
To watch or monitor something carefully
- heart of gold
A very kind, generous, and caring nature
- caught red-handed
Caught in the act of doing something wrong
- keep your chin up
To stay positive and not be discouraged
- wrap your head around something
To understand something complex
- all ears
Listening attentively and eagerly
Use it in a practice answer
Try "rub salt into someone's wounds" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.