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Salt in the Wound

What Does "Salt in the Wound" Mean?

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"Salt in the wound" is an English idiom. It means "additional pain or suffering added to an already difficult or painful situation."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "salt in the wound" used in a sentence:
  • Bringing up their past mistakes was like pouring salt in the wound; it only made things worse.
  • Her sarcastic comment about his recent breakup was like rubbing salt in the wound.
  • The unexpected delay was the salt in the wound for the already frustrated travelers.
meaning for salt in the wound

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Salt in the Wound" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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