sob story

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sob′ sto′ry, 

1. Journalism an excessively sentimental human-interest story.
2. an alibi or excuse, esp. one designed to arouse sympathy:
   Instead of a raise, the boss gave us another sob story about her expenses.
• 1915–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sob story noun

1. a tale of personal distress intended to arouse sympathy, esp one offered as an excuse or apology