sad (redirected from sadder)

sadder but wiser

if someone is sadder but wiser after a bad experience, they have suffered but they have also learned something from it. He bought a second-hand car and ended up sadder but wiser after a series of breakdowns and expensive repairs.

See also: but

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a sad state of affairs

a bad situation that you find upsetting. It's a sad state of affairs when schools don't provide a basic education for their students.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form a sad state: Things have reached a sad state when you have to pay a bribe to get something done.altho "sad state of affairs" is mainly spoken, "sorry state of affairs" is not--SL, 9/02

See also: state