Rub salt in the wound

Meaning

Make someone's hurt worse.

Usage

Used when pointing out additional misfortune.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Salt in a wound increased pain and slowed healing.

Medical texts from the Middle Ages mention salt's effect.