turn the knife

A form of twist the knife — To deliberately do or say something to worsen a difficult situation or increase a person's distress, irritation, or anger.

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Meanings

verbturn the knife (third-person singular simple present turns the knife, present participle turning the knife, simple past and past participle turned the knife)

present singular third person turns the knife · participle present turning the knife · participle past turned the knife · past turned the knife

  1. alternativeAlternative form of twist the knife.
Cite this entry
APA

turn the knife. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20the%20knife

MLA

“turn the knife.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20the%20knife. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “turn the knife,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20the%20knife.

Source: turn the knife on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.