more sinned against than sinning

1. An expression used of those who, though they may be guilty of wrongdoing, think themselves the victim of a more serious wrong. From William Shakespeare 's .

Idioms and Phrases

Less guilty than those who have injured one, as in It's true she took the money but they did owe her quite a bit—in a way she's more sinned against than sinning . This expression comes from Shakespeare's King Lear (3:2), where the King, on the heath during a storm, so describes his plight.