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sob story

 
Dictionary: sob story
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n.
  1. A tale of personal hardship or misfortune intended to arouse pity.
  2. A maudlin plea given as an explanation or a rationalization.

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Idioms: sob story
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Home > Library > Literature & Language > Idioms

A tale of personal hardship, true or invented, that is intended to arouse pity in the listener. For example, She always came up with some sob story to excuse her absences, but no one believed her. [Early 1900s]

WordNet: sob story
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a sentimental story or personal distress; designed to arouse sympathy
  Synonym: sob stuff

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more