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3. sympathy

sympathy

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extend one's sympathy (to someone)

to express sympathy to someone. (A very polite and formal way to tell someone that you are sorry about a misfortune.) Please permit me to extend my sympathy to you and your children. I'm very sorry to hear of the death of your husband. Let's extend our sympathy to Bill Jones, who is in the hospital with a broken leg. We should send him some flowers.

See also: extend, sympathy

one's deepest sympathy

one's very sincere sympathy. I am so sorry about the death of your father. You have my deepest sympathy. She sent her deepest sympathy to the family.

See also: deep, sympathy

tea and sympathy

  (old-fashioned)

kindness and sympathy that you show to someone who is upset Sometimes people want practical advice and sometimes they just want tea and sympathy.

See also: and, sympathy, tea