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Twist the knife

verb, slang

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To deliberately do or say something to worsen a difficult situation or increase a person's distress, irritation, or anger. figuratively, informal

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

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.

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