rub salt in someone's wounds

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rub salt in someone's wounds

To make a painful situation even worse (even with the best of intentions).

Etymology:

From the practice of using salt to inhibit infection of open wounds.

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“

John already feels guilty for what he did to you. Don't rub salt into his wounds.

Collection Edit

Submitted on July 07, 2010

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to rub salt in someone's wounds

rub out rub somebody the wrong way rub up against rub elbows rub salt in the wound rub out rub up rub the wrong way rub one's hands together rub the fear of God into rub up on Rub Elbows with Someone rub it in rub in

How to pronounce this phrase?

Alex
US English
David
US English
Mark
US English
Daniel
British
Libby
British
Mia
British
Karen
Australian
Hayley
Australian
Natasha
Australian
Veena
Indian
Priya
Indian
Neerja
Indian
Zira
US English
Oliver
British
Wendy
British
Fred
US English
Tessa
South African

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"rub salt in someone's wounds." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/rub-salt-in-someones-wounds_14637>.

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