pile on the agony

pile on the agony

To exaggerate one's pain, difficulties, or problems in order to get more sympathy from others. Primarily heard in UK. My wife's been piling on the agony about her sore back so that I'll do more of the work around the house this weekend. Did you hear Tom? He was really piling on the agony to the boss to try to get this Friday off work.
See also: agony, on, pile
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pile on the agony

exaggerate or aggravate a bad situation. informal
See also: agony, on, pile
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

pile on the ˈagony/ˈgloom

(informal, especially British English)
1 make something unpleasant sound much worse than it really is in order to gain sympathy from other people: He always piles on the agony when he has a cold; you’d think he was dying.
2 make somebody feel even worse about an unpleasant situation: The latest fare increase just piles on the gloom for rail passengers, who already feel they are paying too much.
See also: agony, gloom, on, pile
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • agony
  • pile on the agony/gloom
  • pile the agony on
  • pile the gloom on
  • pile on the gloom
  • maw
  • mee-maw
  • talk out of (one's) hat
References in periodicals archive
The Rangers fans who boycotted Tannadice are the lucky ones as Jon Daly and Russell pile on the agony and Ian Black and Kal Naismith are sent off in the dying minutes.
Eight in a woe - Ally's cup record makes nightmare reading
CHARLIE MULGREW says Celtic can't afford to feel to sorry themselves after their Ajax woe - because domestic rivals are lining up to pile on the agony if they let them.
We Scot to be focused
REVIVED Boro are priced as 7/2 underdogs to pile on the agony for 4/5 favourites Spurs at White Hart Lane tonight.
BEAT THE BOOKIIES
MAGICAL Monty Panesar helped England pile on the agony at Lord's yesterday as South Africa were forced to follow on after being skittled for 247.
Boks to the wall as Monty is star man
O'Gara helped to pile on the agony when he sent out a long pass to Kelly to give his wing a run in to the corner for his second try.
Rugby Union: MUNSTER MASH WELSH; MUNSTER 51 CARDIFF 10
Ex-Huddersfield striker Andy Payton returned to his former club to pile on the agony for Bruce.
Football: Steve down but not out; Hudd'field 0 Burnley 1
KO BLOW Shawcross limps off to pile on the agony for Stoke to to pi p le on the agony fo f r Stoke
Pulis is on Shaw-fire loser with Ryan hurt
The rogue ref copped a two-year jail stretch but German chiefs want to pile on the agony by hitting him in the pocket.
Ref in a fix; WORLD OF FOOTBALL
SHAKHTAR DONETSK hitman Julius Aghahowa last night insisted they will pile on the agony for Celtic and end their European dream on Tuesday.
Football: Shak's Julius pleaser
But he hopes Leeds pile on the agony for Super League's youngest boss tonight.
MAC PLOTS POWELL PAIN
Elsewhere, Unibond League Burscough snatched a dramatic 3-2 injury-time victory against Gillingham to pile on the agony for under-fire manager Neale Cooper.
Football: Ket lost Gazza
Glasgow Tigers are desperate to pile on the agony for Stoke Potters in what will be a grudge match of epic proportions at Ashfield tomorrow.
SPEEDWAY: Glasgow Tigers
Blackburn plan to pile on the agony for Martin O'Neill as Sam Allardyce's side look to secure a top 10 finish.
JONES 'NEW JT'
BURNLEY aim to pile on the agony for Tottenham tonight and do to them what they did to Aston Villa in the last round of the League Cup.
Football: BURNLEY GO FOR REPEAT
But the 69-year-old will ruthlessly try to pile on the agony for current boss George Burley in the St James' Park clash.
Football: Robson is going on a 'wich hunt