piove sul bagnato

/ˈpjɔ.ve sul baɲˈɲa.to/
idiomIntermediateidiom
informal

To add insult to injury; to make a bad situation worse by doing something that exacerbates it.

Dopo aver perso il lavoro, piove sul bagnato: la macchina si è rotta.

After losing his job, it's adding insult to injury: his car broke down.

Non solo ha perso il treno, ma piove sul bagnato: ha anche dimenticato il portafoglio.

Not only did he miss the train, but it's adding insult to injury: he also forgot his wallet.

💡

This idiom is often used to express frustration when a series of misfortunes occur.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

piovere sul bagnatoidiom
To make a bad situation worse

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

This idiom is typically used in informal contexts to express frustration or disappointment when things go from bad to worse.

📖Word Origin

The literal translation is 'it rains on the wet,' which metaphorically refers to making a bad situation worse by adding more trouble.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in everyday Italian to describe situations where an already difficult circumstance becomes even more challenging.

Word Breakdown

piove
it rains
verb
+
sul
on the
preposition
+
bagnato
wet
adjective
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese