poor devil
Object of sympathy
A poor devil is someone deserving of pity or sympathy, often because of misfortune or difficult circumstances: The poor devil lost everything in the fire.
The phrase expresses compassion tinged with mild condescension—you feel sorry for someone while also distancing yourself from their troubles.
Sometimes used self-deprecatingly: I'm just a poor devil trying to make a living.
- wretchPitiable or base person
- suffererOne who endures hardship
- victimOne harmed by another
- unfortunateDeserving of pity
- sorry sightSomething lamentable to see
hapless · indigent · pitiful · scapegoat · sad case · sad sack · destitute · fallen on hard times · ill-fated · unlucky · underdog · oppressed · struggling · hard done by · forlorn · martyr · stricken · miserable
poor devillucky dog
Enviably blessed person
lucky devil · lucky stiff · golden boy · golden girl · winner
poor deviltop dog
Dominant leader
toast of the town · big shot · fat cat · kingpin · golden child
poor devilconqueror
Victor who takes control
big cheese · man in charge · kingpin · mover and shaker · self-made man
poor, devil, poorer, poorest, poorly, poorness, impoverish, impoverished, impoverishment