Brewer's: Iron entered into his Soul

(The). The anguish or annoyance is felt most keenly. The allusion is to the ancient custom of torturing the flesh with instruments of iron.

“I saw the iron enter into his soul, and felt what sort of pain it was that ariseth from hope deferred.” —Sterne: Sentimental Journey.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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