(one's) deepest sympathy
One's most heartfelt, sincere condolences. Sometimes said as a set response to someone sharing their misfortunes. A: "I'm not going to be able to come in to work today. I just found out that my father passed away." B: "My deepest sympathies—please, take all the time that you need." We were so saddened to hear about the passing of your sweet brother. Please send our deepest sympathies to the rest of your family. I'm glad I was able to go to the viewing and to share my deepest sympathy with the family directly.
extend (one's) sympathy
To share one's condolences. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's passing. Please extend my sympathy to your mother as well. Don't worry, I extended your sympathy in my card too. I can't make it to the funeral, so please extend my sympathy to the family when you go.
extend (one's) sympathy to (someone)
To share one's condolences with someone. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's passing. Please extend my sympathy to your mother as well. Don't worry, I extended your sympathy to Margaret in my card too. I can't make it to the funeral, so please extend my sympathy to the family when you go.
in sympathy (with something)
In tandem with something; at the same time as and because of something. The data clearly shows that rates of depression rise in sympathy with rates of unemployment. The European stock market suffered another day of large losses in sympathy with concerns of rising interest rates in the US. It would fantastic if morning sickness didn't occur in sympathy with pregnancy, but alas.
out of sympathy with (someone or something)
1. Not in agreement with or having an understanding of someone or something. It's clear, however, that the political party is out of sympathy with the eccentric senator, as many of his peers have called on him to resign. The vast majority of local people are now out of sympathy with the cause of the protesters, as the demonstration has done nothing but inconvenience them.
2. Because one has a deep understanding of, allegiance to, or sympathetic feelings toward someone or something. She declined to press charges against the man out of sympathy with his family. I don't think they are taking our case out of sympathy with our cause, but rather because they know that they can win.
tea and sympathy
A supportive display of sympathy for one who is upset. The image is that of one providing a cup of tea to someone to soothe them while listening to their troubles. I know you have a lot going on, but the least you can do is offer Hannah a little tea and sympathy during her time of grief.
TLC
An initialism of "tender loving care" or, less commonly, "tender love and care," referring to compassionate, caring, protective attention or treatment. I'm really looking forward to my all-inclusive spa retreat. After so many hectic, stressful weeks, I'm in need of some real TLC right now. I love when my kids come home from college so I can give them a little TLC.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
extend one's sympathy (to someone)
to express sympathy to someone. (A very polite and formal way to tell someone that you are sorry about a misfortune.) Please permit me to extend my sympathy to you and your children. I'm very sorry to hear of the death of your husband. Let's extend our sympathy to Bill Jones, who is in the hospital with a broken leg. We should send him some flowers.
one's deepest sympathy
one's very sincere sympathy. I am so sorry about the death of your father. You have my deepest sympathy. She sent her deepest sympathy to the family.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
TLC
Acronym for tender loving care. In modern times this phrase is believed to have originated in a hospital or other sick-care setting, where it alludes to kind and solicitous treatment by nurses. From the mid-1900s on it caught on in a more general way, particularly among songwriters, according to wordsmith Nigel Rees, who found nearly a dozen songs with this title written between 1960 and 1983. Today the term, both spelled out and abbreviated, is applied to kind or gentle treatment for almost anything—a pet, person, plant, automobile, and so on. It has just about replaced the almost synonymous tea and sympathy, meaning special kindness shown to someone who is upset. This term was always most common in Britain, where a cup of tea is standard treatment in such situations. It gained currency as the title of a play by Robert Anderson and a motion picture based on it (1956) about a prep school boy’s affair with a teacher’s wife, but it has largely died out, at least in America.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer