Idioms are evocative, figurative expressions that can add depth and emotion to conversations about crying, transforming discussions about tears, sorrow, or overwhelming feelings into poignant and relatable exchanges.
In this extensive listicle, we’ll explore 52 idioms related to crying—encompassing the act of shedding tears, expressing grief, or experiencing intense emotions—decoding their meanings and illustrating how they can bring a heartfelt touch to conversations about moments of vulnerability. So, grab a tissue, open your heart, and let’s dive into this moving collection of idioms to see how they can make your discussions as expressive as a tearful embrace.
What is an Idiom for Crying?
Idioms for crying are figurative phrases that describe the act of shedding tears or expressing deep emotions, often using vivid imagery to capture the intensity of sorrow, joy, or frustration.
These idioms make conversations about crying more engaging and empathetic, turning abstract feelings of sadness or overwhelm into memorable metaphors. Below, we explore each idiom, provide its meaning, and demonstrate its use with a long sentence to highlight its applicability in real-world scenarios.
Idioms for Crying
1. Cry Your Eyes Out
Meaning: To cry intensely or for a long time, often due to deep sadness or distress.
In a Sentence: After hearing the news of her best friend’s sudden move across the country, she cried her eyes out in her room, the overwhelming sorrow of their impending separation leaving her heartbroken and tearful for hours.
2. Shed a Tear
Meaning: To cry lightly or briefly, often due to emotion or sentimentality.
In a Sentence: Watching the elderly couple renew their vows after fifty years, she couldn’t help but shed a tear, their enduring love touching her heart and bringing a quiet, emotional moment to the joyful ceremony.
3. Turn on the Waterworks
Meaning: To start crying, often deliberately or dramatically, to evoke sympathy or attention.
In a Sentence: When her teacher questioned her late assignment, she turned on the waterworks, hoping her dramatic tears would soften the consequences and persuade the teacher to grant her an extension.
4. Cry Over Spilled Milk
Meaning: To cry or feel upset about something that cannot be changed or undone.
In a Sentence: Though she was tempted to cry over spilled milk after missing the scholarship deadline, she chose to focus on new opportunities, her resilience shining through despite the initial wave of tears and regret.
5. Break Down in Tears
Meaning: To suddenly start crying uncontrollably due to overwhelming emotions.
In a Sentence: When her boss praised her years of dedication during the retirement party, she broke down in tears, the heartfelt recognition overwhelming her with gratitude and bittersweet memories of her career.
6. Cry a River
Meaning: To cry excessively or profusely, often implying an exaggerated emotional response.
In a Sentence: After her favorite team lost the championship in the final seconds, she cried a river, her passionate tears soaking her jersey as she mourned the defeat with her equally emotional friends.
7. Tears of Joy
Meaning: To cry due to overwhelming happiness or relief.
In a Sentence: When her daughter crossed the stage to receive her diploma, she shed tears of joy, the pride and happiness of witnessing her child’s achievement filling her heart with an emotional, tearful celebration.
8. Crocodile Tears
Meaning: To cry insincerely or falsely to manipulate or gain sympathy.
In a Sentence: He shed crocodile tears during the argument, hoping his feigned sadness would sway his partner’s decision, but his insincere crying only deepened the tension in their heartfelt discussion.
9. Cry Your Heart Out
Meaning: To cry deeply and emotionally, often releasing pent-up feelings.
In a Sentence: After losing her beloved pet of fifteen years, she cried her heart out in the quiet of her backyard, the profound grief of her loss pouring out in waves of tears that honored their cherished bond.
10. Well Up
Meaning: To have tears form in the eyes, often without fully crying, due to strong emotions.
In a Sentence: As her brother shared a heartfelt toast at her wedding, her eyes began to well up, the touching words stirring deep emotions that made her smile through the glimmer of unshed tears.
11. Choke Up
Meaning: To become emotional and struggle to speak, often accompanied by tears.
In a Sentence: During his speech at the community fundraiser, he choked up while thanking his supporters, the gratitude and emotion welling in his eyes as tears threatened to spill over in front of the appreciative crowd.
12. Let It All Out
Meaning: To express emotions freely by crying or venting.
In a Sentence: After weeks of holding in her stress, she let it all out in a tearful conversation with her best friend, the cathartic release of tears and words easing her burden and renewing her strength.
13. Cry Like a Baby
Meaning: To cry loudly or uncontrollably, often with a sense of vulnerability.
In a Sentence: When he watched the emotional reunion of soldiers and their families on the news, he cried like a baby, the raw display of love and relief overwhelming him with tears that he couldn’t hold back.
14. Bawling Your Eyes Out
Meaning: To cry loudly and intensely, often with great distress.
In a Sentence: After her audition didn’t go as planned, she was bawling her eyes out backstage, the crushing disappointment of her performance bringing forth a torrent of tears that echoed her shattered dreams.
15. Get Teary-Eyed
Meaning: To become emotional and have tears in the eyes, often subtly.
In a Sentence: Listening to her grandfather recount his wartime stories, she got teary-eyed, the poignant memories of his sacrifices stirring a quiet, emotional response that deepened their bond.
16. Sob Your Heart Out
Meaning: To cry deeply and sorrowfully, often with loud sobs.
In a Sentence: When her childhood home was sold, she sobbed her heart out in the empty living room, the flood of memories from her youth overwhelming her with tears that marked the end of an era.
17. Cry Buckets
Meaning: To cry a large amount, often implying an intense emotional release.
In a Sentence: After the heartbreaking finale of her favorite show, she cried buckets on the couch, her emotional investment in the characters’ journeys spilling over into a deluge of tears that surprised even her roommates.
18. Have a Good Cry
Meaning: To cry as a way to release emotions, often seen as therapeutic.
In a Sentence: Feeling overwhelmed by work, she locked herself in her room to have a good cry, the emotional release of her tears washing away her stress and leaving her refreshed to face the challenges ahead.
19. Cry Wolf
Meaning: To raise a false alarm or cry unnecessarily, causing others to doubt future claims.
In a Sentence: He cried wolf so often about minor injuries that when he genuinely hurt his ankle, his friends didn’t believe his tears, leaving him to limp home alone with a mix of pain and frustration.
20. Tear Up
Meaning: To start crying or have tears form in the eyes, often subtly or briefly.
In a Sentence: When her mentor announced their retirement, she teared up during the farewell speech, the bittersweet realization of their guidance ending bringing a quiet, emotional sheen to her eyes.
21. Blubber
Meaning: To cry noisily and uncontrollably, often with a sense of helplessness.
In a Sentence: After failing her driving test for the third time, she blubbered in the car, her loud, tearful frustration echoing her disappointment as her instructor offered comforting words.
22. Cry on Someone’s Shoulder
Meaning: To seek comfort from someone by crying and sharing emotions.
In a Sentence: When her relationship ended, she cried on her sister’s shoulder for hours, the comforting embrace and shared tears helping her process the heartbreak and begin to heal.
23. Weep Bitterly
Meaning: To cry with deep sorrow or regret, often intensely.
In a Sentence: After missing her mother’s final moments due to a delayed flight, she wept bitterly at the hospital, the profound regret and grief overwhelming her with tears that spoke of her unspoken goodbyes.
24. Burst into Tears
Meaning: To suddenly start crying, often due to a strong emotional trigger.
In a Sentence: When her son surprised her with a visit after years abroad, she burst into tears at the airport, the overwhelming joy of their reunion spilling over into a flood of emotional, happy tears.
25. Cry Foul
Meaning: To protest or cry out against perceived unfairness or injustice.
In a Sentence: When the referee made a questionable call, the coach cried foul, his passionate, tearful objections reflecting his team’s frustration and rallying the crowd to support their cause.
26. Wail
Meaning: To cry loudly and mournfully, often expressing deep grief.
In a Sentence: At the memorial service, she wailed as the choir sang her father’s favorite hymn, her piercing, tearful cries echoing the profound sorrow of losing her greatest supporter and confidant.
27. Snivel
Meaning: To cry or whimper in a weak, complaining manner, often seen as pitiful.
In a Sentence: After being scolded for breaking the vase, the child sniveled in the corner, his quiet, tearful complaints drawing a mix of sympathy and exasperation from his parents.
28. Cry in Your Beer
Meaning: To wallow in self-pity or cry over minor troubles, often humorously.
In a Sentence: Instead of celebrating his promotion, he was crying in his beer about a small mistake at work, his tearful brooding over minor setbacks amusing his friends who urged him to cheer up.
29. Keen
Meaning: To cry or wail loudly, often in mourning or lamentation.
In a Sentence: At the village funeral, she keened for her lost friend, her soulful, tearful lament resonating through the crowd and uniting them in shared grief for a life taken too soon.
30. Bawl Out
Meaning: To cry loudly or scold someone, often combining tears with frustration.
In a Sentence: When her project was unfairly criticized, she bawled out in the meeting, her tearful outburst blending anger and hurt as she defended her hard work to her stunned colleagues.
31. Cry the Blues
Meaning: To express sadness or complain tearfully, often about personal troubles.
In a Sentence: After losing her job, she cried the blues to her neighbor, her tearful complaints about her financial worries prompting a heartfelt offer of support and a warm cup of tea.
32. Howl
Meaning: To cry loudly and wildly, often with intense emotion or pain.
In a Sentence: When he heard his childhood home was demolished, he howled in the empty lot, his raw, tearful cries reflecting the deep pain of losing the place where his happiest memories were made.
33. Moan and Groan
Meaning: To cry or complain continuously, often in a whiny or mournful way.
In a Sentence: After her team’s defeat, she moaned and groaned at the bar, her tearful complaints about the unfair referee mixing with her friends’ attempts to lift her spirits with laughter.
34. Get All Choked Up
Meaning: To become so emotional that speaking is difficult, often with tears.
In a Sentence: When her student dedicated their award to her, she got all choked up, the heartfelt gratitude bringing tears to her eyes as she struggled to express her pride in their achievement.
35. Cry Yourself to Sleep
Meaning: To cry until falling asleep, often due to sadness or distress.
In a Sentence: After her argument with her parents, she cried herself to sleep in her bedroom, the weight of their misunderstanding leaving her tearful and exhausted until dreams offered temporary solace.
36. Tearful Farewell
Meaning: To cry while saying goodbye, often due to emotional parting.
In a Sentence: At the train station, she gave a tearful farewell to her college friends, the bittersweet reality of their separate paths bringing tears that mingled with promises to stay in touch.
37. Whimper
Meaning: To cry softly or weakly, often with a sense of fear or pain.
In a Sentence: Alone in the hospital, she whimpered after her surgery, the quiet, tearful sounds of her discomfort drawing the nurse’s gentle reassurance and a comforting hand to hold.
38. Cry at the Drop of a Hat
Meaning: To cry easily or frequently, often over minor triggers.
In a Sentence: Known to cry at the drop of a hat, she teared up during a commercial about lost puppies, her quick, emotional response endearing her to friends who always kept tissues handy.
39. Sob Story
Meaning: A tale told to evoke sympathy, often accompanied by crying.
In a Sentence: He shared a sob story about his broken guitar to the music store clerk, his tearful tale of lost dreams convincing them to offer a discount on a new instrument.
40. Cry Out in Pain
Meaning: To cry loudly due to physical or emotional pain.
In a Sentence: When she twisted her ankle during the marathon, she cried out in pain, her tearful shouts drawing immediate help from fellow runners who supported her to the finish line.
41. Weep Your Eyes Out
Meaning: To cry profusely, often due to deep sorrow or regret.
In a Sentence: After her grandmother’s passing, she wept her eyes out in the garden they used to tend together, the memories of their shared moments fueling a torrent of tears that honored their bond.
42. Cry Up a Storm
Meaning: To cry intensely or for a long time, often dramatically.
In a Sentence: When her engagement ended unexpectedly, she cried up a storm in her apartment, the emotional turmoil of her broken dreams spilling into tears that lasted through the night.
43. Bleed Your Heart Out
Meaning: To express deep emotional pain or sorrow, often through crying.
In a Sentence: During the therapy session, she bled her heart out, her tearful confessions about her childhood struggles helping her therapist understand the depth of her emotional wounds.
44. Cry in Vain
Meaning: To cry without achieving any result or resolution.
In a Sentence: She cried in vain after begging her boss to reconsider the layoffs, her tearful pleas unable to change the decision but strengthening her resolve to advocate for her team’s future.
45. Lament
Meaning: To cry or express sorrow deeply, often in a mournful way.
In a Sentence: At the community vigil, she lamented the loss of the historic library, her tearful words mourning the cultural treasure and rallying the town to preserve its remaining legacy.
46. Cry Out Your Soul
Meaning: To cry with such intensity that it feels like releasing your deepest emotions.
In a Sentence: After her estranged father’s apology, she cried out her soul in his arms, the years of hurt and longing pouring out in tears that marked the beginning of their reconciliation.
47. Weep Silently
Meaning: To cry quietly, often suppressing the sound of tears.
In a Sentence: During the movie’s tragic ending, she wept silently in the theater, her quiet tears reflecting the profound sadness of the story while respecting the shared silence of the audience.
48. Cry Bitter Tears
Meaning: To cry with resentment, regret, or deep sorrow.
In a Sentence: When she realized her trusted friend had betrayed her, she cried bitter tears in her car, the sting of deception fueling her tears as she grappled with the pain of broken trust.
49. Bemoan
Meaning: To cry or express sorrow or regret, often verbally and tearfully.
In a Sentence: She bemoaned the closure of her favorite bookstore, her tearful complaints about losing a literary haven sparking a community effort to crowdfund a new independent shop.
50. Cry from the Heart
Meaning: To cry with deep, genuine emotion, often from a place of sincerity.
In a Sentence: At the charity gala, she cried from the heart while sharing her story of overcoming hardship, her tearful authenticity inspiring generous donations and heartfelt support from the audience.
51. Drown in Tears
Meaning: To be overwhelmed by crying, often implying excessive sorrow.
In a Sentence: After her childhood dog passed away, she felt like she was drowning in tears, the profound grief of losing her loyal companion overwhelming her with a flood of unstoppable sorrow.
52. Cry Until the Cows Come Home
Meaning: To cry for an extremely long time, often without stopping.
In a Sentence: When her long-distance partner boarded the plane, she cried until the cows came home, the aching sadness of their separation fueling tears that lasted well into the night as she clutched their farewell letter.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Cry Your Eyes Out
What does the idiom “Cry your eyes out” mean?
a) To cry briefly
b) To cry intensely or for a long time
c) To cry insincerely
d) To avoid crying
Quiz 2: Turn on the Waterworks
What is the meaning of “Turn on the waterworks”?
a) To start crying, often dramatically
b) To stop crying
c) To cry silently
d) To laugh uncontrollably
Quiz 3: Crocodile Tears
When someone sheds “Crocodile tears,” what are they doing?
a) Crying with genuine emotion
b) Crying insincerely to manipulate
c) Crying quietly
d) Avoiding tears
Quiz 4: Cry a River
What does “Cry a river” suggest?
a) Crying lightly
b) Crying excessively or profusely
c) Crying silently
d) Crying for joy
Quiz 5: Well Up
What situation is described by “Well up”?
a) Tears forming without fully crying
b) Crying loudly
c) Avoiding emotions
d) Laughing uncontrollably
Quiz 6: Sob Your Heart Out
If someone “Sobs their heart out,” what does it mean?
a) They laugh loudly
b) They cry deeply and sorrowfully
c) They remain calm
d) They avoid emotions
Quiz 7: Cry Buckets
What does “Cry buckets” imply?
a) Crying a small amount
b) Crying a large amount
c) Crying silently
d) Crying insincerely
Quiz 8: Burst into Tears
What is the meaning of “Burst into tears”?
a) To suddenly start crying
b) To stop crying abruptly
c) To cry insincerely
d) To laugh suddenly
Quiz 9: Cry on Someone’s Shoulder
When is it appropriate to say “Cry on someone’s shoulder”?
a) When someone is celebrating
b) When seeking comfort by crying
c) When avoiding emotions
d) When laughing with friends
Quiz 10: Tears of Joy
What does “Tears of joy” suggest?
a) Crying due to sadness
b) Crying due to happiness or relief
c) Crying insincerely
d) Crying silently
Answers:
- b
- a
- b
- b
- a
- b
- b
- a
- b
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for crying are like emotional brushstrokes, painting conversations with vivid metaphors and heartfelt expressions that capture the raw beauty of human vulnerability. Whether you’re describing someone crying their eyes out, shedding tears of joy, or weeping silently, these 52 idioms offer a poignant and empathetic way to articulate the language of tears, making your discussions as moving and authentic as the emotions they convey.