Fool’s Guilt

Cover image for the Fool’s Guilt word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Fool’s Guilt

n.
a pulse of shame you feel even though you’ve done nothing wrong— passing a police car while under the speed limit, being carded after legally ordering a drink, or exiting a store without buying anything.

From fool’s gold + guilt. Also known as a reverse Alford plea, whereby you plead innocent to all charges but want the judge to know that you feel kinda guilty anyway.

The Standard Blues

Cover image for the The Standard Blues word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Heart Of Aces

a person covering their eyes with their hands

Ellipsism

a hand clawing at a wall

Foilsick

Cover image for the Foilsick word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Arroia

people standing on a stage

Offtides

close-up of a chromed metal object