Cool MateRetain vs Save your pity and your mercy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Retain
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Save your pity and your mercy
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Retain
| Retain | Save your pity and your mercy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //rɪˈteɪn//🇺🇸 //rɪˈteɪn// | 🇬🇧 //seɪv jɔː pɪti ənd jɔː ˈmɜːsi//🇺🇸 //seɪv jɔr ˈpɪti ənd jɔr ˈmɜrsi// |
| Meaning | To keep or hold something. | Don't waste your kindness and sympathy. |
| Example | It's important to retain information during exams. | When I failed the exam, my friend said, 'Just save your pity and your mercy; I’m fine.' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | retain customers, retain information, retain control, retain talent | show mercy, feel pity, save compassion |
| Antonyms | lose, discard, abandon | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'retain' vs 'obtain'., Using 'retain' without an object., Misusing 'retain' in informal contexts. | Using 'pity' instead of 'sympathy' incorrectly., Confusing 'mercy' with 'forgiveness'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'retain' when discussing keeping information, objects, or qualities. It's more formal than 'keep'. Avoid in casual speech. | This phrase is often used to tell someone that their compassion is not needed. It's appropriate in contexts where someone tries to show sympathy for a situation that doesn't deserve it. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Retain vs Save your pity and your mercy
What's the difference between Retain and Save your pity and your mercy?
Retain: To keep or hold something. Save your pity and your mercy: Don't waste your kindness and sympathy.
Which is more common: Retain and Save your pity and your mercy?
Retain is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Retain: It's important to retain information during exams. Save your pity and your mercy: When I failed the exam, my friend said, 'Just save your pity and your mercy; I’m fine.'
Can I use Retain and Save your pity and your mercy interchangeably?
Not always. Retain and Save your pity and your mercy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.