Tea and sympathy

Posted by Stan on November 16, 2002

In Reply to: Tea and sympathy posted by masakim on November 15, 2002

: : I've heard of this term being used, but I am not sure what it exactly means. Anyone have a clue?

: Tea and sympathy. Caring and hospitable behaviour towards a troubled person. The phrase comes from the title of Robert Anderson's play of 1953 about the problems faced by a sensitive teenage schoolboy accused of homosexuality. The 'tea and sympathy' in question is provided by the housemaster's wife. A film version followed in 1956.

: All you supposed to do is every once in a while give the boys a little tea and sympathy.
: ROBERT ANDERSON: _Tea and Sympathy_, I
: From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable by Adrian Room

:That phrase is is The Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil". I've heard it a million times; now I get it. kudos

• Tea and sympathy Woodchuck 11/16/02