Misery loves company

1. People who are unhappy may get some consolation from knowing that others are unhappy too.

Idioms and Phrases

Fellow sufferers make unhappiness easier to bear, as in She secretly hoped her friend would fail, too—misery loves company . Words to this effect appeared in the work of Sophocles (c. 408 b.c. ) and other ancient writers; the earliest recorded use in English was about 1349.