IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishrub salt in the wound
Meaning: To make someone's pain or humiliation worse.
Example: “Losing was bad enough; the trophy photo rubbed salt in the wound.”
Origin: Salt was once used to clean wounds, which stung badly. The figurative phrase is common in English from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
German: Salz in die Wunde streuen Literally: To strew salt in the wound
Russian: сыпать соль на рану (sypat' sol' na ranu) Literally: To pour salt on a wound
More English idioms
- behind the scenes Out of public view, where the real work or decisions happen.
- kick up a fuss To complain loudly and cause a commotion.
- cry at the drop of a hat To burst into tears very easily.
- been there, done that Said of an experience one already knows well, often with a shrug.
- think outside the box To find an unconventional solution.
- not get off the ground To fail to make any progress at all.
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