sympathy is between shit and syphilis en · X
Etymology
An allusion to the alphabetical position of the word sympathy in a dictionary.
Meanings
-
(colloquial, derogatory, humorous, vulgar) A dismissal of a person seeking sympathy, telling them to look elsewhere.
Everyone knows sympathy is between shit and syphilis in the dictionary, and you don't want either of them, but Ted was about to get at least one!
2013, Mark D Holroyd, Frog Tales, page 225:I told you before if you are looking for sympathy, it's in the dictionary between shit and syphilis. Other than that you get nothing from me.
2007, Carl E. Prichard, Silent Agony, page 100:"Sympathy. Wait, let me get it right. Okaaay, I know. You're supposed to look in the dictionary. That's it! Then you'll find sympathy between shit and syphilis. There! That's it!"
2010, Chip Giles, The Conch Killers, page 56:Murphy stared out of the window. "If you're looking for sympathy, take a look in Webster's dictionary. Try between 'shit' and 'syphilis'."
2003, Bill Harding, Growler, page 93:2022, Famously quoted by Sarah Platt during the 23/3/22 edition of Coronation Street. Although the word ‘shit’ was changed to ‘shame’ due to the watershed nature of the show.
The master chief I call Boomerang, who knows that sympathy is the word that sits in the SEAL dictionary between shit and syphilis, reminded me that if we were going to take the fuckin' tangos down, I'd better stop wasting time […]
2012, Richard Marcinko, John Weisman, Detachment Bravo: