rub salt in the wound
US /rʌb sɔlt ɪn ðə wund/
UK /rʌb sɔlt ɪn ðə wund/
1.
to make a difficult situation even worse for someone, especially by reminding them of their failures or misfortunes
:
•
Losing the game was bad enough, but then the coach decided to rub salt in the wound by criticizing every player publicly.
•
She didn't get the promotion, and to rub salt in the wound, her junior colleague got it instead.