To add insult to injury means to worsen an already bad situation, often by making it more painful, either physically or emotionally. It implies that someone is already suffering, and additional harm or offense is being added.
Meaning of ”add insult to injury”:
This idiom is used when something negative happens on top of an already existing problem, intensifying the situation. It often refers to events where a person, already in distress, faces further misfortune or humiliation.
Examples of usage:
Household mishap:
“First, the basement flooded, and then, to add insult to injury, a pipe burst in the kitchen. It felt like everything was going wrong at once.”
Car trouble:
“My car barely started this morning, and to add insult to injury, I got a flat tire just as I was pulling out of the driveway.”
When to use ”add insult to injury”
Use add insult to injury when describing a situation where something bad gets even worse, especially when it seems unnecessary or unfair. It is a common phrase to highlight frustration or irony when problems pile up.
Equivalent expressions:
- “Rub salt in the wound” – To make a painful situation even worse by adding more difficulty or insult.
- “Kick someone when they’re down” – To take advantage of or further hurt someone who is already struggling.
- “Twist the knife” – To make someone feel worse after they’ve already been hurt or offended.
This idiom serves as a way to express the compounding of negative experiences and emphasizes the emotional or practical toll of added misfortune.
