pile the agony on

pile the agony on

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 the agony on 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 the agony on to the boss to try to get this Friday off work.
See also: agony, on, pile
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • agony
  • pile on the agony
  • pile on the agony/gloom
  • pile on the gloom
  • pile the gloom on
  • maw
  • mee-maw
  • talk out of (one's) hat
References in periodicals archive
CELTIC midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung is ready to pile the agony on his Parkhead team-mate Emilio Izaguirre.
Ki's friendly fire
RPSPORT reckon Harry Redknapp's side are value to gain a positive result and pile the agony on Ancelotti.
CHELSEA IN CRISIS; PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS HAVE COLLECTED ONLY FIVE POINTS FROM THE LAST 18 AVAILABLE THEY HAVE WON JUST TWO OF THEIR LAST EIGHT AND ARE ON THEIR WORST RUN SINCE SEPTEMBER 2000 NO AWAY GOALS FOR DROGBA THIS SEASON AND ANELKA HAS SCORED ONE IN 12 LEAGUE GAMES THE BLUES HAVE BAGGED ONLY THREE IN THEIR LAST FIVE AWAY AND HAVE LOST THREE OF THEIR LAST FOUR ON THE ROAD: And it could get worse today
DUNFERMLINE'S Noel Hunt missed last year's Scottish Cup Final against Celtic - but now he aims to pile the agony on to the Parkhead club.
Football: NOEL GLAD TO BE BACK IN THE HUNT; DUNFERMLINE V CELTIC SUNDAY, KICK-OFF 12PM