big pity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "big pity" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used to express a strong sense of regret or disappointment about a situation, although more standard expressions are preferred. Example: "It's a big pity that the concert was canceled at the last minute."

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It's a big pity".

The Guardian

It's a big pity for her".

The New York Times - Sports

Just as I was about to throw myself a great big pity party there in the hair-care aisle, my eye caught a display of those fake tortoiseshell headbands.

The New Yorker

Con Ed paid for cleanup, and the big pity is that the city last month declined to tear down the Sheridan Expressway, which severs the park from its neighborhood.

The New York Times

But complete disregarding the past, and forget about everything that you have as a unique asset and never reimagine how to repackage this unique asset for future use, that's a big pity.

Harvard Business Review

He is a fantastic horse and when I received the news I was very sad because, when you have a champion like that, it's a big pity to finish the career like this".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The biggest pity is if China cracks down and that stops happening.

The New York Times - Arts

The same way you can't hold back the tears, sometimes you just have to throw the biggest pity party in your honor.

Huffington Post

"It's a big shame and a pity," said another.

The New York Times

Tim Rogers, as Freddie, the unlikable, hard-drinking chess genius, makes him a brilliantly despicable jerk and then, in his big number, Pity the Child, shows how a dysfunctional upbringing shaped him.

The Guardian

Photograph: Michael Buckner/Getty Images 12.00am GMT Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the Oscars Photograph: Steve Granitz/WireImage Jennifer Lawrence (nominated for best actress for Silver Linings Playbook) is having a big year, so pity the woman whose choice of craft means she has to dress up over and over again in an array of dresses she looks like she can't wait to fling on the bedroom floor.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "big pity" with "great shame" or "real disappointment" to have a more formal and widespread usage.

Common error

Avoid using "big pity" repeatedly in formal writing. While understood, overusing it can make your writing sound less sophisticated. Vary your expressions of regret by incorporating synonyms and rephrasing your sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "big pity" functions as an expression of regret or disappointment. It serves to highlight an unfortunate situation or outcome. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to comment on various setbacks, from sporting losses to economic downturns.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "big pity" serves as a way to express regret or disappointment. While grammatically sound, Ludwig AI indicates that it is considered acceptable but less widespread than alternatives. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts and less so in formal academic writing. When choosing to use "big pity", consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing, as more formal options like "great shame" or "real disappointment" may be more suitable in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Great shame

Replaces "pity" with "shame" to convey disappointment.

Real disappointment

Uses "disappointment" instead of "pity", emphasizing the feeling of being let down.

Terrible shame

Emphasizes the degree of regret using "terrible" instead of "big".

It's regrettable

Changes the structure to a more formal statement of regret.

It's unfortunate

Offers a milder, more detached expression of disappointment.

What a loss

Focuses on the negative consequence or deprivation caused by the situation.

It's a crying shame

Uses a more emphatic and colloquial expression to highlight the regrettable nature of the situation.

Major disappointment

Replaces "big" with "major" to emphasize the intensity of the disappointment.

A matter of regret

Frames the situation as something to be regretted.

A cause for sadness

Highlights the sadness or sorrow associated with the situation.

FAQs

What does "big pity" mean?

"Big pity" is an expression used to convey a strong sense of regret or disappointment about a situation. It indicates that something is unfortunate or undesirable.

Is it grammatically correct to say "big pity"?

Yes, "big pity" is grammatically acceptable, but it might sound less formal than alternatives like "great shame" or "real disappointment".

What are some alternatives to saying "big pity"?

You can use phrases like "great shame", "real disappointment", "it's regrettable", or "it's unfortunate" to express similar sentiments.

How can I use "big pity" in a sentence?

You can use "big pity" in a sentence to express your disappointment about something. For example, "It's a "big pity" that the concert was cancelled."