rub salt in someone's wounds

verb

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.”

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Meanings

verbrub salt in someone's wounds (third-person singular simple present rubs salt in someone's wounds, present participle rubbing salt in someone's wounds, simple past and past participle rubbed salt in someone's wounds)

present singular third person rubs salt in someone's wounds · participle present rubbing salt in someone's wounds · participle past rubbed salt in someone's wounds · past rubbed salt in someone's wounds · alternative rub salt in the wound

  1. idiomaticTo 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.

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

rub salt in someone's wounds. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20salt%20in%20someone's%20wounds

MLA

“rub salt in someone's wounds.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20salt%20in%20someone's%20wounds. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rub salt in someone's wounds,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20salt%20in%20someone's%20wounds.

Source: rub salt in someone's wounds on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.