selfish sympathy

Regretful soothing words dat you administer to someone else to supposedly make him feel better about a situation, but in reality you merely feel sorry for YOURSELF.

A classic "selfish sympathy" example, from an old "Peanuts" comic:

Schroeder, in exasperation at Lucy's pushy "over-attentiveness": Do you know what Beethoven never had?!
Lucy: What?
Schroeder, rantingly waving his arms above his head: Beethoven never had girls hanging on to his piano and bugging him about giving them presents!
Lucy, mildly shocked: He DIDN'T?! (pauses to ponder this fact) Poor Beethoven!

by QuacksO March 8, 2023

sympathy grind

To temporarily receive a lady's favor for several seconds before she departs, laughing.

Getting a sympathy grind turned him off to clubs forever.

by tempo May 1, 2014

sympathy

when your friend has a fat ass and you feel for them

“Girl, buying pants must be so difficult. I have sympathy for you but I can’t relate because my butt is flat.”

by thenastya May 8, 2025

Sympathy agent

Like the FBI, but for niceness

He's such a sympathy agent!

by evevev July 7, 2021

sympathy bread

Something someone gives another person out of sympathy with a sexual implication behind it.

I was feeling down, but Karen offered me her sympathy bread in order to cheer me up!

by SmolFry January 4, 2018

Sympathy Blanket

A guy or girl used by a love interest for the sole purpose of listening to problems and offer sympathy. Often manipulated, a sympathy blanket gets little reciprocation from the relationship.

“James you need to leave her, you’re turning into a sympathy blanket.”

by Decoy Kamikaze April 24, 2022

sympathy get

when a girl only gets with a boy because they feel sorry for the boy. this is highly embarrassing if the girl has a conversation with the boy. explaining why it was a sympathy get.

olly, you were a sympathy get

by mr 9 o'clock February 7, 2022