thoughts and prayers

thoughts and prayers

A phrase often used as part of an attempt to comfort someone who has just suffered a tragic loss, as in, "Our thoughts and prayers are with you." The frequent use of the phrase or similar expressions by politicians after mass shootings in the US has increasingly been criticized by those who believe it is used to avoid pursuing tangible actions, notably changes to gun laws. You can keep your thoughts and prayers, senator—they won't give me my sister back.See also: and, prayer, thought