1
general::
Fellow sufferers make unhappiness easier to bear, as in She secretly hoped her friend would fail, too? misery loves company. Words to this effect appeared in the work of Sophocles (c. 408 B.C.) and other ancient writers; the earliest recorded use in English was about 1349.
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): Misery loves company.
Prov. Unhappy people like other people to be unhappy too. • Jill: Why is Linda criticizing everybody today? Jane: Her boss criticized her this morning, and misery loves company. • I should probably feel bad because my sister is so depressed, but I’m pretty depressed myself. Misery loves company.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs