a hard-luck story

a hard-luck story

A typically self-pitying tale of misfortune, hardship, adversity, etc., told especially to gain sympathy or charity from others. Here he goes again with some hard-luck story to get us to pay for his drinks.See also: story

a hard-ˈluck story

a story about yourself that you tell somebody in order to get their sympathy or help: He stopped me in the street and told me a long hard-luck story about his wife leaving him. All he really wanted was some money.Don’t give me any of your hard-luck stories, John. I don’t believe them.See also: story