rub salt into the wound

(verb) to make a bad experience even more painful

Example Sentences:

Boyfriend: I have bad news. I’m breaking up with you.
Girlfriend: Why?!
Boyfriend: I think we are too different. I think we should separate.
Girlfriend: I can’t believe this! *cries*
Boyfriend: I don’t want to rub salt into the wound, but do you mind if I call your best friend?

When Sheila discovered that she had failed the test, she was upset. The professor rubbed salt into the wound when he told her that she would not be able to graduate because of her poor mark.

The manager is really unpopular because he is always rubbing salt in the wounds of his employees by criticizing them harshly.

From the Blogs:

Don’t rub salt into the wound

Media:

Similar idioms:

1. add insult to injury
2. rub someone the wrong way
3. get on someone’s bad side
4. come clean