30+ Idioms for Crying That You Should Know!

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idioms for crying

Sometimes you don’t know how to express your emotions and you end up crying. Crying is not a sign of weakness, it just proves that you are a human. Crying is a natural reaction to a wide range of emotions, from profound sadness and anguish to ecstasy and joy. We have mentioned idioms for crying that you can use in your daily life.

Also Read: 500+ Most Commonly Used Idioms with Examples

Idioms for Crying

Crying is a universal human experience that can express a wide range of emotions, from profound sadness to overwhelming joy. In English, various idioms encapsulate the nuances of crying, allowing speakers to convey their feelings more vividly. These idiomatic expressions not only enrich the language but also provide insight into the emotional states associated with tears.

Some common idioms for crying include:

  • Tear up / Well up: To begin to get tears in one’s eyes without actually crying yet.
  • Moved to tears: To feel such strong emotions that one is compelled to cry.

Let us take a look at some more idioms for crying which you will be able to use in your day-to-day conversations.

Cry Your Eyes Out

The meaning of crying your eyes out is to cry very hard or in an uncontrolled way.

Example: My whole family cried out eyes out after our house burned down.

Burst Into Tears

We can say someone bursts into tears when they suddenly start crying a lot.

Example: She looked like she was going to burst into tears.

Also Read: Idioms for Kids

In Floods of Tears

When someone is in floods of tears, it means they are crying uncontrollably due to extreme sadness.

Example: They said goodbye in a flood of tears.

Cry Crocodile Tears

To cry crocodile tears is to pretend to be sad and cry about something.

Example: Every knows your reality, therefore stop shedding crocodile tears, now it will not help you fool people anymore.

Also Read: Idioms for IELTS

Hold Back The Tears

When trying to prevent crying and stop yourself from showing emotions, it means holding back the tears.

Example: She kept trying to hold back her tears.

Also Read: Understanding Idioms: Examples and Meanings

Close to Tears

This idiom refers to someone who for no reason begins crying

Example: His eyes welled up, and he was dangerously close to tears.

Quiz on Idioms for Crying

Instructions: Choose the best idiom to complete each sentence.

  1. After losing the competition, he __________. a) cried a river b) laughed his head off c) whispered sweet nothings
  2. She was so touched by the surprise party that she became __________. a) teary-eyed b) stone-faced c) full of beans
  3. The pressure became too much, and she __________. a) broke down in tears b) jumped for joy c) kept a stiff upper lip
  4. When her beloved pet died, she __________. a) cried her heart out b) chuckled to herself c) whistled a happy tune
  5. He was so amused by the comedian that he __________. a) cried with laughter b) fumed with anger c) yawned uncontrollably

Answer Key:

  1. a) cried a river
  2. a) teary-eyed
  3. a) broke down in tears
  4. a) cried her heart out
  5. a) cried with laughter

Additional List of Idioms for Crying with Meaning and Examples

Idioms for Crying MeaningExample Sentences
Bawl One’s Eyes OutTo cry out loudly and uncontrollablyWhen Sarah’s pet rabbit passed away, she bawled her eyes out for hours.
Shed TearsTo cry or weep, often silently.The touching scene in the movie made me shed tears of joy.
Cry a RiverTo cry excessively or for a longer period.He was so dramatic about losing the game; that you’d think he’d cried a river.
Tear UpTo become teary-eyedShe was teary-eyed as she watched her daughter graduate.
Break Down in TearsTo suddenly start crying, often due to overwhelming emotions.The stress of the final exam caused her to break down in tears.
Cry One’s Heart OutTo cry intensely or express deep emotions through tears.She cried her heart out when she heard the news.
SnivelTo cry or sniffle in a weak or complaining manner.The child snivelled and rubbed his eyes, trying to get his way.
Choke UpTo become emotional and struggle to speak due to tears.He started to choke up as he talked about his late father.
WailTo cry out loudly, often in pain or grief.The child wailed loudly when his balloon popped.
Have a MeltdownTo have an emotional outburst, often involving crying.The toddler had a meltdown in the grocery store when his mom wouldn’t buy him candy.
Bawl Like a BabyTo cry loudly and in a manner reminiscent of an infant.He bawled like a baby when he didn’t get the toy he wanted.
Drown in TearsTo cry so much that one’s eyes seem to fill with tears completely.After her beloved pet ran away, she felt like she was drowning in tears.
Shed a TearTo cry, typically only a small amount.He tried to be strong, but he couldn’t help but shed a tear as he watched his old friend leave.
Let It All OutTo express one’s emotions fully, often through crying.Sometimes, the best thing to do is just let it out and have a good cry.
Welling UpTo feel tears forming in one’s eyes.Seeing the old photo album caused memories to flood back, and tears started welling up in her eyes.
Cry on Someone’s ShoulderTo seek comfort or support by sharing one’s feelings and crying.After the breakup, she needed to cry on someone’s shoulder, so she called her best friend.
Cry Like a FaucetTo cry excessively or uncontrollably.The little boy cried like a faucet when his balloon popped.
Let the Tears FlowTo allow oneself to cry without holding back.After holding it in for so long, she finally let the tears flow.
Cry a WaterfallTo cry excessively, as if producing a waterfall of tears.He cried like a waterfall when his dog ran away.
Cry One’s Eyes DryTo cry so much that one runs out of tears.He was so distraught that he cried his eyes dry.
Break into TearsTo suddenly start crying, often unexpectedly.The sad movie scene caused her to break into tears.
Shed a Flood of TearsTo cry copiously or excessively.She shed a flood of tears as she recounted the traumatic experience.
Cry One’s Heartache AwayTo cry as a way of coping with emotional pain or grief.She hoped that a good cry would help her cry her heartache away.
Tears of JoyCrying due to overwhelming happiness or relief.She wept tears of joy when her son returned home safely.
Cry a Sea of TearsTo cry excessively, as if producing an entire sea of tears.She cried a sea of tears when her beloved pet passed away.
Eyes Welling with TearsTo feel tears gathering in one’s eyes, ready to fall.Her eyes welled into tears as she listened to the poignant melody.
ProverbsIdioms Synonyms
Proverbs Starting with Z Idioms on RainSynonyms of Capture
Famous Afghan ProverbsIdioms for SurpriseSynonyms of Jovial
French ProverbsIdioms for Story WritingSynonyms of Waste
Popular Palestinian ProverbsIdioms for ExperienceSynonyms of Welcome
Motivation Proverbs for StudentsIdioms for LoveSynonyms of Love

FAQs

Are there idioms for crying that aren’t necessarily about sadness?

Yes! While many crying idioms relate to sadness, some can relate to other strong emotions. For example, someone might “cry with laughter” if something is extremely funny. Although not strictly an idiom, “eyes welling up” can also describe a response to beauty or other intense emotions.

What does it mean to “cry a river”?

“Cry a river” means to cry excessively or to be overly emotional, often in a dramatic way. It suggests the person is crying so much that it’s as if they could create a river with their tears.

Is there a difference between “cry one’s heart out” and “cry buckets”?

While both express intense crying, “cry one’s heart out” emphasizes the emotional depth and release, suggesting a deep sadness or grief. “Cry buckets” focuses more on the sheer volume of tears shed.

When would you say someone is “teary-eyed”?

“Teary-eyed” describes someone whose eyes are filled with tears, often indicating sadness, sentimentality, or impending crying. It suggests the person is on the verge of tears but not necessarily crying openly.

What does it mean to “break down in tears”?

To “break down in tears” means to suddenly lose control of one’s emotions and start crying, often after a period of holding back. It suggests a point of emotional overwhelm.

This was all about Idioms for crying. Hope you understand the concept and know how to proceed. You can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to grammar. 

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