easy on the pity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "easy on the pity" is not a standard expression in written English, but it is understandable.
You can use it when asking someone to refrain from excessive sympathy or compassion in a situation. Example: "I appreciate your concern, but please be easy on the pity; I'm handling it."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But go easy on the pity.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The pity is that blue — as Tiriac advertised — is quite easy on the eyes.

The New York Times - Sports

Was it just easier to succumb to the pity business?

HuffPost

More is the pity on both counts.

The Economist

The pity makes one wish that Akhmatova's life had been easier.

The Economist

"In fact, I played yesterday with Sasha and Malia, and they took it easy on me because they were feeling pity".

The New York Times

The pity, of course, is that it ultimately means flying on United.

TechCrunch

More is the pity.

The Guardian

More's the pity.

Forbes

-- Stop the pity party.

Huffington Post

But with substitutes who rank among the world's best players, there was no easy way to take pity on China.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "easy on the pity", ensure the context is clear to avoid misinterpretation. It's often used to discourage excessive or insincere displays of sympathy.

Common error

Avoid using "easy on the pity" when genuine empathy is required. The phrase can come across as dismissive or insensitive if used inappropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "easy on the pity" functions as an imperative, typically used to request or advise someone to moderate or reduce their expression of sympathy. This is supported by the example provided by Ludwig, which demonstrates its use in discouraging excessive displays of compassion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "easy on the pity" is an acceptable, though informal, imperative used to discourage excessive or insincere expressions of sympathy. As Ludwig AI notes, while understandable, it's not a standard expression in written English and should be used judiciously. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, its tone is typically neutral. Consider alternatives like "spare the sympathy" or "hold the pity party" depending on the situation to ensure the intended message is accurately conveyed and doesn't come across as dismissive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spare the sympathy

Focuses on withholding sympathy entirely.

hold the pity party

Emphasizes stopping excessive self-pity or shared commiseration.

don't overdo the sympathy

Suggests avoiding an exaggerated display of sympathy.

go light on the compassion

Recommends a gentle approach to expressing compassion.

moderate your sympathy

Implies adjusting the level of sympathy shown.

be restrained with sympathy

Highlights the importance of keeping sympathy under control.

temper your compassion

Suggests balancing compassion with other considerations.

curb the pity

Focuses on restraining pity.

control your sympathy

Emphasizes keeping sympathy in check.

limit the compassion

Suggests setting boundaries on compassion.

FAQs

How can I use "easy on the pity" in a sentence?

You can use "easy on the pity" when asking someone to refrain from excessive sympathy or compassion in a situation. For example: "I appreciate your concern, but please be easy on the pity; I'm handling it."

What are some alternatives to "easy on the pity"?

You can use alternatives like "spare the sympathy", "hold the pity party", or "don't overdo the sympathy" depending on the context.

Is "easy on the pity" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "easy on the pity" is an informal phrase. It's generally acceptable in casual conversation but might not be suitable for formal writing.

When is it appropriate to use "easy on the pity"?

It's appropriate when you want to discourage someone from showing excessive or insincere sympathy, or when you want to minimize self-pity. Be mindful of the tone, as it can sometimes sound dismissive.