Dictionary.com
definitions

sob story

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sob story ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an excessively sentimental human-interest story.
an alibi or excuse, especially one designed to arouse sympathy: Instead of a raise, the boss gave us another sob story about her expenses.

RELATED CONTENT

The Lyrical Story Of Punk RockRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
The Story Behind Saint Patrick’s NameMarch 17th marks the annual celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, or Lá Fhéile Pádraig in Irish. But, who was Saint Patrick?
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

pathos, schmaltz, sentimentalism, heartbreaker, tearjerker

Nearby words

soave, soave operation, soay, sob, sob sister, sob story, sob stuff, soba, sobeit, sober, sober as a judge

Origin of sob story

First recorded in 1915–20
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for sob story

sob story

noun

a tale of personal distress intended to arouse sympathy, esp one offered as an excuse or apology
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with sob story

sob story

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]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.