twist the knife

English

Alternative forms

• turn the knife, twist the knife in the wound, turn the knife in the wound

Etymology

Derived from the fact that the act of literally twisting a knife that is still inside someone who has just been stabbed will widen the wound and make it even more painful.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

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Verb

twist the knife (third-person singular simple present twists the knife, present participle twisting the knife, simple past and past participle twisted the knife)

1. (informal, figuratively) To deliberately do or say something to worsen a difficult situation or increase a person's distress, irritation, or anger.
   • 2009, Lucy Dillon, Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts, Berkley, published 2011, →ISBN, page 198:

     "And I'm not seeing anyone," she added, just to twist the knife — in whom, she wasn't sure.

Synonyms

• kick someone when they are down
• rub salt in the wound
• See also Thesaurus:make matters worse

Derived terms

• knife twister
• twist of the knife

Translations

Translations

• Finnish: vääntää veistä haavassa
• French: remuer le couteau dans la plaie (fr)
• Italian: girare il coltello nella piaga
• Polish: pogarszać (pl) impf, pogarszyć pf
• Spanish: hacer sangre

References

• “twist/turn the knife (in the wound)”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “twist turn the knife in the wound”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “twist turn the knife in the wound” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “twist turn the knife in the wound” (US) / “twist turn the knife in the wound” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.