twist of the knife en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
See twist the knife.
Meanings
-
(figuratively, informal) An action that worsens a difficult situation or increases a person's distress, irritation, or anger.
But Mr. Christie had instructed the audience to listen for what he dismissively called the “memorized 25-second speech,” adding, with a twist of the knife, that it was “exactly what his advisers gave him.”
2016 February 7, Michael Barbaro, “Once Impervious, Marco Rubio Is Diminished by a Caustic Chris Christie”, in The New York Times:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| twists of the knife | Number=Plur | lexicographic |