cup of woe

USAGE SUMMARY

"cup of woe" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used figuratively to refer to a feeling or situation of misery, disappointment, or distress. For example, "John looked at the pile of bills that had arrived in the mail and sighed deeply, thinking about the cup of woe he had brewed for himself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

When a pass from his scrum-half hit him in the chest, his head turned the other way to organise his midfield, his cup of woe ran over.

Independent

Cup of Woe, or, Now and Then.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

At Tweetsie, the stock characters are played by local college students, with one robot in the mix: an animatronic town drunk in the jail cell, who's been waving his cup and repeating his tale of woe for decades.

Vice

Even before the ramifications for Arsenal and England are explored, it is another tale of World Cup woe for Walcott as he continues to endure an unfulfilling relationship with the sport's biggest showpiece.

BBC

Tales of woe circulate.

The Economist

The signs of woe abound.

The New York Times

Landlords, too, come with tales of woe.

The New Yorker

The Landesbanken are a tale of woe.

The Economist

In publishing, the tale of woe continued.

The Guardian

There were of course tales of woe.

The Guardian

Still, individual tales of woe abound.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cup of woe" sparingly to maintain its impact. Overuse can diminish its figurative power.

Common error

Avoid using "cup of woe" in literal contexts. It's a metaphor, not a description of an actual cup containing something unpleasant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cup of woe" functions as a noun phrase, often used as a metaphor to represent a situation or experience filled with sorrow, distress, or misfortune. As Ludwig AI points out, this is a figurative expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cup of woe" is a valid and evocative noun phrase used metaphorically to describe a situation or feeling of profound sadness or misfortune. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly common, it appears in both news/media and academic contexts. When using this phrase, remember that it’s a figurative expression and should be employed to add emotional depth rather than in a literal sense. Consider alternative phrases such as "time of great sorrow" or "cascade of misfortune" depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a container of grief

While still using "container", it specifies the emotion as "grief".

a period of suffering

Replaces the metaphorical "cup" with a more literal description of a difficult time.

a measure of suffering

Uses "measure" to suggest a quantifiable amount of distress.

a time of great sorrow

Substitutes "woe" with "sorrow" and uses "time" instead of "cup" to denote a period.

a cascade of misfortune

Employs "cascade" to represent a series of unfortunate events, altering the metaphor.

a fountain of tears

Changes the imagery from a "cup" to a "fountain", emphasizing overwhelming sadness.

a chapter of adversity

Replaces the metaphor with a narrative concept, focusing on hardship.

a trial of tribulations

Emphasizes a testing or challenging experience, moving away from the "cup" metaphor.

an era of despair

Focuses on a prolonged period of hopelessness and gloom.

a pool of misery

Shifts the image to a stagnant, unpleasant situation.

FAQs

How can I use "cup of woe" in a sentence?

You can use "cup of woe" to describe a situation filled with sadness or misfortune. For example, "After losing his job and his house, John felt like he was drinking from a "cup of woe"".

What is the origin of the phrase "cup of woe"?

The phrase's origin isn't definitively known, but it likely stems from the metaphorical use of "cup" to represent one's experiences or fate, often associated with negative emotions.

What can I say instead of "cup of woe"?

Alternatives include "time of great sorrow", "cascade of misfortune", or "pool of misery", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "cup of woe" a formal or informal expression?

"Cup of woe" is generally considered a somewhat literary or figurative expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts where a touch of dramatic flair is appropriate. It's more common in writing than in everyday speech.