hit someone when they are down

hit someone when they are down (third-person singular simple present hits someone when they are down, present participle hitting someone when they are down, simple past and past participle hit someone when they were down)

1. (idiomatic) Synonym of kick someone when they are down (“make things worse for someone in a difficult position”)
   • 1844, The Westminster Review‎, number LXXXIII:

     Not to hit a man when he is down is no item in Lord Stanley's code of honour;

• kick someone when they are down, strike someone when they are down
  • See also Thesaurus:make matters worse