adding insult to injury

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'adding insult to injury' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as an idiom to indicate that something bad is made worse or added on to something else that has already occurred. For example, you could say, "He was already struggling with his new job, and then they cut his pay, adding insult to injury."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

TALK about adding insult to injury.

The New York Times

Such statements felt defamatory to Harth, adding insult to injury.

The Guardian

He is a master of never adding insult to injury.

The Guardian

"Running their faces is just adding insult to injury".

The New York Times

Now, Ms. Udy says, insurers are adding insult to injury.

The New York Times - Health

And, adding insult to injury, some aren't even spelling the word correctly.

The Washington Post

The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, described the flights as "adding insult to injury".

The Guardian

It feels like adding insult to injury when you're trying to move on with your life".

The Guardian

To have dried out one and frozen the other is just adding insult to injury.

The New York Times

Susan Hannums, director of Savingschampion.co.uk, said the cut was adding insult to injury for savers.

The Guardian - Money

And, adding insult to injury, we never really found out who the Black Glove is.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "adding insult to injury" to emphasize the unfairness or irony of a situation where negative events accumulate, intensifying the initial hardship.

Common error

Avoid using "adding insult to injury" when merely describing a sequence of unfortunate events that are not directly related or don't intensify the initial problem. It is best suited to situations where the second event directly compounds the first.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding insult to injury" functions as an idiomatic expression. It typically serves as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb to express the way an action worsens an already negative situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "adding insult to injury" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe situations where a negative event is compounded by another, worsening the initial situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. Predominantly found in News & Media, this expression effectively conveys frustration or indignation when unfair circumstances escalate. Alternatives include "rubbing salt in the wound" and "to make matters worse". When using the phrase, ensure the subsequent event directly intensifies the initial problem. Its authoritative presence in sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Washington Post solidifies its reliability and proper usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rubbing salt in the wound

This alternative implies exacerbating an already painful or unpleasant situation.

to add fuel to the fire

This alternative suggests intensifying an already volatile or problematic situation.

to make matters worse

This alternative is a more general way of saying that a situation is deteriorating.

compound the problem

This alternative refers to worsening an existing issue by adding another layer of difficulty.

add aggravation

This alternative means to increase the feeling of annoyance or exasperation.

exacerbate the situation

This alternative emphasizes the worsening of an already negative state.

pour gas on the flames

This alternative emphasizes intensifying a problem or conflict.

heap further indignity

This alternative suggests layering more humiliation on top of an existing slight.

aggravate the offense

This alternative increases the severity of an already committed misdeed or insult.

pile on the agony

This alternative highlights the accumulation of suffering or distress.

FAQs

How can I use "adding insult to injury" in a sentence?

You can use "adding insult to injury" to describe a situation where something bad is made even worse. For example, "He lost his job, and "adding insult to injury", his car broke down the same day."

What does "adding insult to injury" mean?

The phrase "adding insult to injury" means to make a bad situation even worse. It implies that something is done to intensify the pain or humiliation already experienced.

What's a similar expression to "adding insult to injury"?

A similar expression to "adding insult to injury" is "rubbing salt in the wound". Both phrases describe making a bad situation worse.

Is "adding insult to injury" an idiom?

Yes, "adding insult to injury" is an idiom. It's a phrase whose meaning isn't predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements.