Last Updated：2025/11/23

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

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rub salt in someone's wounds

Source Word

rub salt in someone's wounds

Verb

idiomatic

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

Japanese Meaning

（慣用句）困難や苦しい状況において、すでに悪化している状態をさらにひどくする行為。たとえば、誤って不運な個人の状況を悪化させる行動を指す。 / 象徴的に、すでに傷ついている人に対して、無神経な言動でその痛みを増幅させる様子を示す。

Telling her about the promotion after she'd just been laid off would rub salt in someone's wounds.

解雇されたばかりの彼女に昇進の話をするのは、傷口に塩を塗るようなもので、ただでさえつらい状況をさらに悪化させるだけだ。

Sense（1）

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

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

rubs salt in someone's wounds

（ present singular third-person ）

rubbing salt in someone's wounds

（ participle present ）

rubbed salt in someone's wounds

（ participle past ）

rubbed salt in someone's wounds

（ past ）