pity
Related to pity: pity party
drown in self-pity
To be entirely consumed by sorrow, self-deprecation, or other negative emotions to the point of self-indulgence and/or paralysis. It's hard to help someone who would rather drown in self-pity than find a solution to their problems.
See also: drown
for God's sake
An oath of exasperation, annoyance, frustration, anger, or surprise. Would you let me finish my story, for God's sake? Oh for God's sake, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it! For God's sake! I haven't seen you in years!
See also: sake
for heaven's sake
A mild oath of surprise, exasperation, annoyance, frustration, or anger. For heaven's sake! I haven't seen you in years! Would you let me finish my story, for heaven's sake? Oh for heaven's sake, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it!
See also: sake
for Pete's sake
A mild oath of exasperation, annoyance, frustration, anger, or surprise. Would you let me finish my story, for Pete's sake? Oh for Pete's sake, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it! For Pete's sake! I haven't seen you in years!
See also: sake
for pity's sake
A mild oath of surprise, exasperation, annoyance, frustration, or anger. For pity's sake! I haven't seen you in years! Would you let me finish my story, for pity's sake? Oh for pity's sake, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it!
See also: sake
have pity on (one)
To act compassionately or with sympathy toward one. Please, have pity on me, I don't want to die! The three spirits taught Scrooge how to have pity on his fellow man.
See also: have, on, pity
more's the pity
old-fashioned That is regretful and disappointing; it's a shame. A: "Looks like Aunt Leanne and her kids won't be coming tonight." B: "More's the pity, and I made all this extra food for them, too."
See also: pity
take pity on (someone or something)
To treat someone or something kindly due to feeling sympathy or compassion toward them, especially because of their misfortune or suffering. Oh, take pity on Bill—he's been sick all week. That's the only reason he's fallen behind in his work. The king took pity on the old beggar, who turned out to be a wizard.
See also: on, pity, take
that's a pity
That is really unfortunate; that's too bad. Can be used sarcastically. A: "Tom and I broke up yesterday." B: "Aw, that's a pity! You two were such a cute couple!" A: "I'm sorry, but I have decided not to accept your offer." B: "That's a pity. We really thought you were the perfect person for the role." I guess he decided to delete his account from the forum. That's a pity—I'm sure we'll all miss his inane observations.
See also: pity
what a pity
That is really unfortunate; that's too bad. Can be used sarcastically. A: "Tom and I broke up yesterday." B: "Aw, what a pity! You two were such a cute couple!" A: "I'm sorry, but I have decided not to accept your offer." B: "What a pity. We really thought you were the perfect person for the role." I guess he decided to delete his account from the forum. What a pity—I'm sure we'll all miss his inane observations.
See also: pity, what
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
For Pete's sake!
and For pity's sake!; For the love of Mike!; For goodness sake!; For gosh sake!; For heaven('s) sake!a mild exclamation of surprise or shock. For Pete's sake! How've ya been? For pity's sake! Ask the man in out of the cold!
have pity on someone (or an animal)
to have compassion toward someone or an animal. Please! Have pity on us. Let us come in!
See also: have, on, pity
more's the pity
Fig. it is a great pity or shame; it is sad. (Sometimes with the.) Jack can't come, more's the pity. Jane had to leave early, more's the pity.
See also: pity
take pity (on someone or an animal)
to feel sorry for someone or an animal. We took pity on the hungry people and gave them some hot food. She took pity on the little dog and brought it in to get warm.
See also: pity, take
What a pity!
and What a shame!Fig. an expression of consolation meaning That's too bad. (Can also be used sarcastically.) Bill: I'm sorry to tell you that the cat died today. Mary: What a pity! Mary: The cake is ruined! Sally: What a shame!
See also: what
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
for God's sake
Also, for goodness sake. See for the sake of, def. 3.
See also: sake
for Pete's sake
Also, for pity's sake. See for the sake of, def. 3.
See also: sake
for the sake of
1. Also for one's sake. Out of consideration or regard for a person or thing; for someone's or something's advantage or good. For example, For Jill's sake we did not serve meat, or We have to stop fighting for the sake of family unity. [Early 1200s]
2. For the purpose or motive of, as in You like to quarrel only for the sake of an argument. [Early 1200s]
3. for God's sake. Also for goodness or heaven's or Pete's or pity's sake . An exclamation showing surprise, impatience, anger, or some other emotion, depending on the context. For example, For God's sake, I didn't expect to see you here, or Hurry up, for goodness sake, or For heaven's sake, how can you say such a mean thing? or For pity's sake, finish your dinner. The variants are euphemisms for God. [c. 1300] For a synonym, see for the love of, def. 2.
See also: of, sake
take pity on
Also, have pity on. Show compassion or mercy to, as in Take pity on the cook and eat that last piece of cake, or, as Miles Coverdale's 1535 translation of the Bible has it (Job 19:21), "Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye, my friends." This idiom may be used half-jokingly, as in the first example, or seriously. [Late 1200s]
See also: on, pity, take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
more's the pity
If you add more's the pity to a comment, you are expressing your disappointment or regret about something. My world isn't your world, more's the pity. We've always lacked a written constitution, more's the pity.
See also: pity
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
more's the pity
used to express regret about a fact that has just been stated. informal 1994 Amstrad Action The full version of this game never got released. More's the pity, as if the demo's anything to go by, it would have been a stormer.
See also: pity
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
for ˌPete’s ˈsake
(British English) used to emphasize that it is important to do something, or when you are annoyed or impatient about something: For Pete’s sake, what are you doing in that bathroom? You’ve been in there for nearly an hour.See also: sake
ˌmore’s the ˈpity
(British English, informal) unfortunately: He can’t read and he doesn’t want to learn, more’s the pity.See also: pity
for God’s, heaven’s, pity’s, etc. ˈsake
used to emphasize that it is important to do something; used to show that you are annoyed about something: For God’s sake try and control yourself! Do be careful, for goodness’ sake. Oh, for heaven’s sake!(Some people find the use of God here offensive.)See also: sake
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
For Pete’s sake!
and For pity’s sake! and For the love of Mike! exclam. Good grief! For Pete’s sake! Is that you Charlie? For pity’s sake! Ask the man in out of the cold!
For pity’s sake!
verbSee For Pete’s sake!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
for heaven's/Pete's/pity's sake
An expression of surprise, emphasis, exasperation, outrage, and so forth. These all are euphemisms for “for God’s sake,” which in some circles is considered blasphemous. “For heaven’s sake” dates at least from the nineteenth century. “For Pete’s sake” appeared in Dialect Notes in 1924. “For pity’s sake” dates from the sixteenth century; Michael Drayton used it in one of his Idea sonnets of 1593: “Rebate thy spleen, if but for pities sake!” See also for the love of Mike/Pete/God.
See also: sake
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- drown in self-pity
- musclehead
- like to hear (oneself) talk
- like to hear oneself talk
- married
- marry
- marry above oneself
- above
- above (oneself)
- above yourself