What is the meaning of the phrases "tear asunder", "lay on" and "rub salt into open wound" in this match report between Man Utd Man City?
A merciless Manchester City tore Manchester United asunder at Old Trafford as they ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Erik ten Hag's deplorable troops in Sunday's Premier League Manchester derby.
Erling Haaland customarily found the back of the net twice before laying on Phil Foden to rub salt into the Red Devils' open wounds, as the hosts' three-game winning run was snapped in embarrassing fashion against their bitter rivals
Two of these expressions are connected to the thrashing that Manchester United received against Manchester City: 'rub salt into' and 'tear asunder'.
1. To rub salt into something means to make something bad even worse so in this example, Foden's goal is the third goal in the game so it makes United's situation even worse. Foden rubbed salt in United's wounds with the third goal.
2. To tear asunder in football means to completely destroy another team and as City easily defeated United we can say they tore them asunder (or tore them apart).
3. The other expression (to lay on) is describing a pass that leads to a goal so it is an assist.
Thanks a lot for the explanation.
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