more sinned against than sinning
more sinned against than sinning
Less guilty or worthy of blame than others who have injured or laid such blame or guilt upon one. I may be exploiting a loophole in how much social welfare payments I'm receiving, but given how my retirement fund was stolen from me by fraudulent investors, I'd say I'm more sinned against than sinning. The nurse undoubtedly made questionable judgment calls in this unfortunate case; however, his hands were largely tied by ambiguous legal wordings relating to end of life care, and in my opinion he was more sinned against than sinning.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
more sinned against than sinning
Less guilty than those who have injured one, as in It's true she took the money but they did owe her quite a bit-in a way she's more sinned against than sinning . This expression comes from Shakespeare's King Lear (3:2), where the King, on the heath during a storm, so describes his plight.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
more sinned against than sinning
Less guilty or responsible than others who have done one wrong. This particular phrase comes from Shakespeare’s King Lear (3.2), when Lear wanders about the heath during a terrible storm and complains of his plight. The idea, of course, is much older. Nevertheless the phrase appealed particularly to Shaw, who used it in at least two plays (Captain Brassbound’s Conversion, 1899; Fanny’s First Play, 1911).
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer