getting pity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "getting pity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of eliciting sympathy or compassion from others. Example: "He was always getting pity from his friends for his unfortunate circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Worse, most women don't tell people they are pregnant until they are out of the first trimester, so you're SOL in terms of getting pity.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

On the one hand we get pity - and on the other hand people make harsh comments, because her disability [bipolar disorder] is 'invisible'invisible

The Guardian

You get pity.

Huffington Post

"When I talk about it, it's not to get pity," she explained about her dating life.

Huffington Post

Till we meet again, I remain, The Blogapist Who Likes Romance Too But Thinks That a Guy Who Tells a Female Friend That His Wife "Killed Romance" For Him May Be a Tad Dramatic Slash Trying To Get Pity Sex From You.

Huffington Post

Some addicts get pitied, others get blamed.

The New Yorker

You don't want to seem like that mid-life crisis guy that thinks he's impressing people but really just gets pitied.

WikiHow

The poor in our country get little pity or understanding.

Independent

We got 'Tis Pity She's a Ho.

The Guardian

You've got to pity the hip hop video director who has to work around those contraints.

The Guardian - Music

You have got to pity those students who have to persevere with that garbage in order to get a degree of questionable merit".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "getting pity" when you want to emphasize the process of someone receiving or eliciting sympathetic feelings from others, often unintentionally or undesirably.

Common error

Be cautious of using "getting pity" when it implies manipulative behavior. Consider alternative phrases like "seeking support" or "gaining understanding" if the intention is not to exploit sympathy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "getting pity" functions as a gerund phrase, where "getting" acts as a verb form taking "pity" as its object. It describes the process of receiving or obtaining sympathy or compassion from others. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is considered correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "getting pity" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the act of receiving or eliciting sympathy. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it's important to be mindful of potential negative connotations associated with intentionally seeking sympathy. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. Consider alternative phrases like "seeking sympathy" or "eliciting compassion" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seeking sympathy

Focuses on the active pursuit of sympathy, rather than the reception of it.

eliciting compassion

Highlights the act of drawing out compassion from others, emphasizing a more active role.

inviting sympathy

Suggests a passive reception of sympathy, implying an openness to receiving it.

gaining sympathy

Emphasizes the outcome of acquiring sympathy, rather than the process.

attracting compassion

Implies a natural draw or pull towards compassion, suggesting an inherent quality.

receiving compassion

Highlights the act of being given compassion, focusing on the receiving end.

inspiring pity

Focuses on causing pity in others, highlighting the effect on the observer.

becoming an object of pity

Shifts the focus to the state of being pitied, rather than the action of receiving it.

being seen as pitiable

Emphasizes the perception of being deserving of pity, highlighting the viewpoint of others.

drawing concern

Suggests attracting worry and care, focusing on the emotional response of others.

FAQs

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

You can use "getting pity" to describe someone who is receiving or seeking sympathy. For example, "He was always getting pity from his friends for his unfortunate circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "getting pity"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "seeking sympathy", "eliciting compassion", or "inviting sympathy".

What does it mean to "play the pity card"?

To "play the pity card" is to intentionally evoke sympathy from others in order to gain an advantage. This is a related concept, but it's more manipulative than simply "getting pity".

Is "getting pity" a negative expression?

It can be, especially if it implies that someone is deliberately seeking sympathy for personal gain. However, it can also be used neutrally to describe someone who is simply receiving sympathy due to their circumstances.