twist the knife
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
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.
Verb[edit]
twist the knife (third-person singular simple present twists the knife, present participle twisting the knife, simple past and past participle twisted the knife)
- (informal, figuratively) To deliberately do or say something to worsen a difficult situation or increase a person's distress, irritation, or anger.
Synonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
Translations
|
References[edit]
- “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.