twist/turn the knife (in the wound)
idiom
informal
: to say or do things that cause more pain to someone who is already suffering
Any more cuts in government aid to these poor people will be twisting the knife in the wound.
Examples of twist/turn the knife (in the wound) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Later questions twist the knife even further, delving into white-guy hypocrisy around Black Lives Matter.
—
Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
Trump was happy to twist the knife at a rally in Tempe on Thursday, hours before Biden flew into the nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
—Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2024
Republicans, eager to twist the knife into Biden and the Democrats, will probably embrace Netanyahu and his defiant position on the war.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 July 2024
Never one to pass up on an opportunity to twist the knife further, Hayama calls Sato a coward in front of everyone and demands Kaito, in particular, agree with him.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024
This series focuses on Ray’s victims in the lead-up to his conviction, allowing viewers to see the way charismatic people can twist the knife and turn someone’s life sideways, whether in a convention center with 2000 people or a small residence in a university.
—Eric Farwell, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2023
Gently twist the knife to slowly pry the shell open.
—Odette Williams, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2023
Kingfisher is not afraid to twist the knife, showing the sacrifices Toadling has made and the ill treatment she’s suffered, but the story keeps coming back to kindness — which could be the best possible antidote to dystopia.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023
Stick your knife gently into the gap and, holding the coconut over the bowl, twist the knife to open the shell and empty out the coconut water.
—Farokh Talati, Bon Appétit, 3 Feb. 2023
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Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
Trump was happy to twist the knife at a rally in Tempe on Thursday, hours before Biden flew into the nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
—Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2024
Republicans, eager to twist the knife into Biden and the Democrats, will probably embrace Netanyahu and his defiant position on the war.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 July 2024
Never one to pass up on an opportunity to twist the knife further, Hayama calls Sato a coward in front of everyone and demands Kaito, in particular, agree with him.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024
This series focuses on Ray’s victims in the lead-up to his conviction, allowing viewers to see the way charismatic people can twist the knife and turn someone’s life sideways, whether in a convention center with 2000 people or a small residence in a university.
—Eric Farwell, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2023
Gently twist the knife to slowly pry the shell open.
—Odette Williams, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2023
Kingfisher is not afraid to twist the knife, showing the sacrifices Toadling has made and the ill treatment she’s suffered, but the story keeps coming back to kindness — which could be the best possible antidote to dystopia.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023
Stick your knife gently into the gap and, holding the coconut over the bowl, twist the knife to open the shell and empty out the coconut water.
—Farokh Talati, Bon Appétit, 3 Feb. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near twist/turn the knife (in the wound)
Cite this Entry
“Twist/turn the knife (in the wound).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twist%2Fturn%20the%20knife%20%28in%20the%20wound%29. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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