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pity
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
for Pete's sake
(spoken) I am annoyed or surprised by this
for goodness' sake She has a huge salary and gets a bonus, too - how much money does she need, for Pete's sake? Usage notes: used for emphasis and often used instead of the more offensive idioms for God's sake and for Christ's sake
have pity on somebody
to do something out of sympathy that will help someone An old man begged the soldiers to have pity on him and let him go.
take pity on somebody
to do something because you feel sympathy for someone She stood there shivering until Claudia took pity on her and put her sweater around the child's shoulders.
for Pete's 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.
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]
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!
verb