Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb idiomatic To
further aloss withmockery orindignity ; toworsen an unfavourablesituation
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
This was derived from the fables of Phaedrus in the first century AD. The story was of a bald man who swats at a fly which has just bitten him on the head, but instead hits himself on the head. The fly comments, "You wished to kill me for a touch. What will you do to yourself since you have added insult to injury". The actual wording appears in English from the middle of the 18th century. This definition is lacking an etymology or has an incomplete etymology. You can help Wiktionary by giving it a proper etymology.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word add insult to injury.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.