Hi.
Doest it mean 'unfortunately' or that you feel ashamed (embarrassed), or, perhaps, it can mean both of these?
a fact or circumstance bringing disgrace or regret: The bankruptcy of the business was a shame. It was a shame you couldn't come with us.
If an idiom is supposed to be a phrase or set of words in which the meaning differs from the individual meanings of the words I'm not sure how "it is a shame" would really be an idiom
shame definition | Dictionary.com
...It is expressing regret over the situation.
:?: By your own definition it is. The word 'shame' on its own doesn't refer to regret. The Dictionary.com definition does not mention misfortune. 'It's a shame' is 'a phrase or set of words in which the meaning differs from the individual meanings of the words'. What am I missing:-?...
I don't honestly see "it's a shame" being an idiom.