noun
1. : a sentimental story or account designed chiefly to evoke sympathy or sadness
the old sob story of youngsters sweltering in the blow rooms of the glass factories and spinning out their lives in cotton mills — New Republic
2. : a story or account designed to gain sympathy and used as an excuse or rationalization
won't listen to your sob stories about absences — Evan Hunter
your publisher's sob stories about how little he can afford — Julian Maclaren-Ross