rub salt into one's wounds

== English == === Alternative forms === rub salt in the wound === Etymology === From the practice of using salt to inhibit infection of open wounds. === Pronunciation === === Verb === rub 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) (idiomatic) To make a painful situation even worse (even with the best of intentions).