twist of the knife

See twist the knife.

twist of the knife (plural twists of the knife)

1. (informal, figuratively) An action that worsens a difficult situation or increases a person's distress, irritation, or anger.
   • 2016 February 7, Michael Barbaro, “Once Impervious, Marco Rubio Is Diminished by a Caustic Chris Christie”, in The New York Times‎:

     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.”