45 Idioms for Crying

Crying can express a range of emotions—sadness, frustration, joy, or even relief. It’s something we all experience, and it’s no surprise that languages are full of idioms about shedding tears. These expressions let us talk about crying in a colorful and figurative way. So, let’s dive into 49 idioms for crying, each with its own unique twist!

Table of Contents

1. Cry over spilled milk

Meaning: To be upset over something that can’t be undone.
In a Sentence: She was crying over spilled milk when she failed the test, even though there was nothing she could do to change it.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t cry over the past, no use crying over it, what’s done is done.

2. Cry wolf

Meaning: To raise a false alarm or exaggerate a problem.
In a Sentence: If you keep crying wolf about small issues, no one will believe you when something serious happens.
Other Ways to Say: Shout about nothing, raise false alarms, make a mountain out of a molehill.

3. Burst into tears

Meaning: To suddenly start crying.
In a Sentence: She burst into tears when she heard the news about her childhood friend moving away.
Other Ways to Say: Break down, start crying, dissolve in tears.

4. Shed tears

Meaning: To cry, especially in an emotional or poignant way.
In a Sentence: The movie was so moving that even the toughest guys in the theater shed tears.
Other Ways to Say: Weep, cry your eyes out, get teary-eyed.

5. Cry your heart out

Meaning: To cry intensely and emotionally, often for a long time.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, he cried his heart out for days.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbing uncontrollably, bawl, lose it.

6. Have a good cry

Meaning: To cry in order to release emotions or feel better afterward.
In a Sentence: After the long week, I just needed to have a good cry to feel better.
Other Ways to Say: Let it out, cry it out, shed those tears.

7. Cry for the moon

Meaning: To wish for something unattainable or unrealistic.
In a Sentence: Asking for a raise on your first day is like crying for the moon.
Other Ways to Say: Reach for the stars, ask for too much, want the impossible.

8. Cry someone a river

Meaning: To cry excessively over something trivial or unimportant.
In a Sentence: She cried him a river over a little disagreement, even though it wasn’t a big deal.
Other Ways to Say: Make a mountain out of a molehill, overreact, get overly emotional.

9. Keep your eyes dry

Meaning: To avoid crying, often in an attempt to be strong or composed.
In a Sentence: He kept his eyes dry during the sad farewell, even though he was struggling inside.
Other Ways to Say: Hold back tears, stay strong, keep a stiff upper lip.

10. Cry out for help

Meaning: To call for assistance, often in desperation.
In a Sentence: After being trapped under the debris, she cried out for help until someone finally heard her.
Other Ways to Say: Scream for help, shout for assistance, beg for help.

11. In tears

Meaning: To be crying or visibly upset.
In a Sentence: She was in tears after hearing the bad news about her pet.
Other Ways to Say: Crying, full of tears, red-eyed.

12. Be moved to tears

Meaning: To be so emotionally affected that one starts crying.
In a Sentence: The heartfelt speech moved him to tears, and he couldn’t control his emotions.
Other Ways to Say: Overcome with emotion, brought to tears, choked up.

13. Crying in your beer

Meaning: To feel sorry for oneself, especially while drinking.
In a Sentence: He was sitting at the bar, crying in his beer after losing his job.
Other Ways to Say: Self-pity, wallow in misery, drown your sorrows.

14. Tear up

Meaning: To begin to cry, especially in a subtle or gentle way.
In a Sentence: The touching memory made her tear up during the ceremony.
Other Ways to Say: Get teary-eyed, well up, feel choked up.

15. Make a scene

Meaning: To cause a public display of emotion, often involving crying.
In a Sentence: She made a scene at the party when her ex showed up, crying uncontrollably.
Other Ways to Say: Cause a fuss, create a drama, lose control.

16. Cry bloody murder

Meaning: To complain or protest loudly, often about something minor.
In a Sentence: Don’t cry bloody murder just because you have to do a bit of extra work.
Other Ways to Say: Raise a fuss, make a big deal, scream about it.

17. Cry one’s eyes out

Meaning: To cry for an extended period, often in distress.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, she cried her eyes out for hours.
Other Ways to Say: Sob uncontrollably, bawl your eyes out, wail.

18. Cry over a lost cause

Meaning: To waste your time grieving or caring about something that is beyond saving.
In a Sentence: There’s no point crying over a lost cause; he’s already moved on.
Other Ways to Say: Beat a dead horse, waste your time, look for solutions in vain.

19. Cry at the drop of a hat

Meaning: To start crying very easily or without much provocation.
In a Sentence: She cries at the drop of a hat whenever she hears a sad story.
Other Ways to Say: Sensitive, tear-prone, emotionally fragile.

20. A shoulder to cry on

Meaning: A person who listens and offers support when you’re upset.
In a Sentence: After her breakup, she found a shoulder to cry on in her best friend.
Other Ways to Say: Comforting presence, emotional support, sounding board.

21. Cry over spilt milk

Meaning: To mourn or regret something that cannot be undone.
In a Sentence: He was crying over spilt milk after realizing he missed the train, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t dwell on the past, what’s done is done, no use crying over the past.

22. Cry into your pillow

Meaning: To cry in private, often feeling sad or heartbroken.
In a Sentence: After the argument, she went to bed and cried into her pillow, hoping no one would notice.
Other Ways to Say: Weep in solitude, cry alone, drown in tears.

23. Cry like a baby

Meaning: To cry uncontrollably or in a very dramatic way.
In a Sentence: He cried like a baby when his favorite toy broke.
Other Ways to Say: Wail like a child, sob uncontrollably, bawl.

24. Sobbing your heart out

Meaning: Crying heavily and emotionally, often from a deep sense of sadness.
In a Sentence: After the loss, she was sobbing her heart out for days, unable to stop the tears.
Other Ways to Say: Cry bitterly, weep inconsolably, cry uncontrollably.

25. Tears of joy

Meaning: Tears shed from happiness or overwhelming positive emotion.
In a Sentence: When she received the good news, tears of joy streamed down her face.
Other Ways to Say: Cry tears of happiness, emotional happiness, weep with joy.

26. Waterworks

Meaning: A reference to crying, especially when it happens frequently or intensely.
In a Sentence: During the wedding speech, the waterworks began, and everyone in the room teared up.
Other Ways to Say: Crying fit, sobbing, tears flowing.

27. Cry at the drop of a hat

Meaning: To cry without warning, typically over something minor.
In a Sentence: She’s so emotional; she’ll cry at the drop of a hat over the smallest things.
Other Ways to Say: Be overly sensitive, tear up easily, be emotionally fragile.

28. Cry the blues

Meaning: To complain or lament about something, often through tears.
In a Sentence: He spent the entire afternoon crying the blues about how unfair life was.
Other Ways to Say: Moan and groan, complain bitterly, express sorrow.

29. A tearjerker

Meaning: A story or movie that makes people cry, often because it’s overly sentimental.
In a Sentence: That movie was such a tearjerker—I couldn’t stop crying at the ending.
Other Ways to Say: Emotional rollercoaster, heartbreak story, weepy movie.

30. Cry foul

Meaning: To complain or protest about an unfair situation, often with emotions.
In a Sentence: She started crying foul when she realized she wasn’t invited to the party.
Other Ways to Say: Raise objections, voice discontent, call it unfair.

31. Ball your eyes out

Meaning: To cry intensely, often with loud sobs or hysterics.
In a Sentence: She balled her eyes out after hearing the heartbreaking news about her pet.
Other Ways to Say: Sob hysterically, cry uncontrollably, wail.

32. Have a tear in your eye

Meaning: To feel emotionally moved or on the verge of crying.
In a Sentence: He had a tear in his eye when he saw his daughter walk down the aisle.
Other Ways to Say: Get teary-eyed, feel emotional, well up.

33. Cry for mercy

Meaning: To cry in a desperate plea for help or relief.
In a Sentence: She was crying for mercy after the grueling workout, begging for a break.
Other Ways to Say: Plead for help, beg for relief, cry out in desperation.

34. Cry over spilled milk

Meaning: To be upset or angry about something that cannot be changed.
In a Sentence: He kept crying over spilled milk, wishing he had studied harder for the test.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t waste energy, forget about it, move on.

35. To cry a river

Meaning: To cry excessively, often for a long time.
In a Sentence: After losing the championship game, they cried a river, feeling defeated and broken-hearted.
Other Ways to Say: Sob endlessly, shed endless tears, bawl uncontrollably.

36. Cry on someone’s shoulder

Meaning: To seek comfort from someone, typically while crying.
In a Sentence: She cried on her best friend’s shoulder after the difficult breakup.
Other Ways to Say: Seek solace, lean on someone, get emotional support.

37. Blow your nose in the handkerchief

Meaning: A more delicate way of referring to someone crying.
In a Sentence: She had to blow her nose in the handkerchief after hearing the sad news.
Other Ways to Say: Sniffle, wipe your tears, discreetly cry.

38. Cry your eyes out

Meaning: To cry heavily or uncontrollably for an extended period.
In a Sentence: He cried his eyes out after his childhood pet passed away.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbing intensely, weep bitterly, lose it emotionally.

39. Cry like a cat in heat

Meaning: To cry loudly and persistently, often in a very dramatic manner.
In a Sentence: She cried like a cat in heat when she couldn’t find her favorite shoes.
Other Ways to Say: Cry incessantly, make a scene, sob loudly.

40. Cry wolf

Meaning: To make false or exaggerated claims, often resulting in others not believing you when there’s a real problem.
In a Sentence: He kept crying wolf about the situation, but when something real happened, no one listened.
Other Ways to Say: Raise false alarms, make a fuss over nothing, overreact.

41. Cry for joy

Meaning: To shed tears out of happiness or excitement.
In a Sentence: She cried for joy when she found out she had been accepted to her dream college.
Other Ways to Say: Weep with happiness, tears of excitement, cry with joy.

42. Wipe away the tears

Meaning: To stop crying or to console someone after they have cried.
In a Sentence: He gently wiped away her tears, trying to comfort her after the sad event.
Other Ways to Say: Dry your tears, comfort someone, console.

43. Cry till the cows come home

Meaning: To cry for a very long time, even though it doesn’t solve anything.
In a Sentence: You can cry till the cows come home, but the decision is final.
Other Ways to Say: Wail for hours, cry endlessly, sob for a long time.

44. Cry your heart out

Meaning: To cry deeply, with great emotion.
In a Sentence: She cried her heart out when she heard the devastating news.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbing uncontrollably, crying deeply, mourning.

45. Give someone a good cry

Meaning: To cause someone to cry, often due to emotional events or media.
In a Sentence: That movie really gave me a good cry; I didn’t expect it to be so moving.
Other Ways to Say: Move someone emotionally, make someone weep, stir up feelings.

46. Cry for attention

Meaning: To cry or express distress in a way that seeks sympathy or notice.
In a Sentence: He was only crying for attention, trying to get people to notice him at the party.
Other Ways to Say: Seek sympathy, make a scene for attention, overdramatize.

47. Tears on the pillow

Meaning: To experience sorrow or sadness in private.
In a Sentence: She spent the night crying with tears on the pillow, unable to fall asleep.
Other Ways to Say: Cry alone, shed tears in solitude, mourn in silence.

48. Wipe the tear away

Meaning: To end the sadness or stop the tears, often in a comforting or healing manner.
In a Sentence: He wiped the tear away and assured her that everything would be alright.
Other Ways to Say: Stop the tears, dry your eyes, find comfort.

49. Tearjerker movie

Meaning: A film that evokes intense emotions, often making viewers cry.
In a Sentence: That tearjerker movie left the entire theater in tears by the end.
Other Ways to Say: Emotional drama, heart-wrenching film, sob story.

MCQs Quiz on: Idioms for Crying

1. What does the idiom “Cry over spilt milk” mean?

a) To mourn over something that can still be fixed
b) To cry about something that is irreversible
c) To cry for attention
Answer: b) To cry about something that is irreversible

2. Which idiom refers to crying privately in solitude?

a) Cry foul
b) Cry into your pillow
c) Cry like a baby
Answer: b) Cry into your pillow

3. What does the phrase “Sobbing your heart out” mean?

a) Crying deeply and emotionally
b) Crying for joy
c) Crying loudly for attention
Answer: a) Crying deeply and emotionally

4. What does “Tears of joy” refer to?

a) Crying out of frustration
b) Crying due to happiness
c) Crying in sorrow
Answer: b) Crying due to happiness

5. Which idiom refers to a dramatic or uncontrollable amount of crying?

a) Waterworks
b) Cry like a cat in heat
c) Cry at the drop of a hat
Answer: a) Waterworks

6. What does “Cry at the drop of a hat” mean?

a) To cry only for serious reasons
b) To cry without any significant reason
c) To cry in private
Answer: b) To cry without any significant reason

7. Which idiom suggests crying due to a sad or emotional event like a movie?

a) A tearjerker
b) Ball your eyes out
c) Cry foul
Answer: a) A tearjerker

8. What is the meaning of the idiom “Cry wolf”?

a) To cry loudly without reason
b) To make false claims or exaggerate
c) To cry in desperation
Answer: b) To make false claims or exaggerate

9. What does “Cry for mercy” mean?

a) To cry because you are in emotional pain
b) To cry in desperation, asking for help
c) To cry from sadness
Answer: b) To cry in desperation, asking for help

10. “Cry your eyes out” means to:

a) Cry for joy
b) Cry uncontrollably for a long time
c) Cry briefly over something minor
Answer: b) Cry uncontrollably for a long time

11. What does the idiom “Wipe away the tears” suggest?

a) To stop crying and find comfort
b) To cry even more
c) To ignore someone’s emotional state
Answer: a) To stop crying and find comfort

12. “Cry for attention” refers to:

a) Crying in public to get sympathy
b) Crying silently
c) Crying because of emotional pain
Answer: a) Crying in public to get sympathy

13. The idiom “Cry till the cows come home” means:

a) Crying for hours over something trivial
b) Crying for joy
c) Crying after a long time of happiness
Answer: a) Crying for hours over something trivial

14. Which of these idioms means to cry from happiness?

a) Cry for mercy
b) Cry for joy
c) Cry over spilt milk
Answer: b) Cry for joy

15. “Ball your eyes out” means:

a) To cry loudly in public
b) To cry intensely and for a long time
c) To cry from joy
Answer: b) To cry intensely and for a long time

16. What does “Cry like a baby” imply?

a) Crying due to frustration
b) Crying in a very dramatic or exaggerated manner
c) Crying to get attention
Answer: b) Crying in a very dramatic or exaggerated manner

17. The idiom “Cry like a cat in heat” means:

a) Crying quietly and without anyone noticing
b) Crying loudly and persistently
c) Crying due to sadness
Answer: b) Crying loudly and persistently

18. What does “Tears on the pillow” suggest?

a) Crying alone and in solitude
b) Crying for joy
c) Crying while talking to someone
Answer: a) Crying alone and in solitude

19. What is the meaning of the idiom “Cry your heart out”?

a) Cry briefly over something unimportant
b) To cry deeply and emotionally
c) Crying for attention
Answer: b) To cry deeply and emotionally

20. The idiom “Tearjerker movie” refers to:

a) A movie that makes people laugh
b) A movie that is so sad it makes viewers cry
c) A movie with dramatic action scenes
Answer: b) A movie that is so sad it makes viewers cry

21. “Waterworks” is used to describe:

a) Crying secretly
b) Crying as if it’s endless or uncontrollable
c) Crying out of happiness
Answer: b) Crying as if it’s endless or uncontrollable

22. “Cry on someone’s shoulder” means:

a) To cry in public
b) To seek comfort from someone while crying
c) To cry loudly for attention
Answer: b) To seek comfort from someone while crying

23. What does “Wipe the tear away” imply?

a) To cry even harder
b) To stop crying or console someone
c) To ignore the emotional state of someone
Answer: b) To stop crying or console someone

24. The idiom “Cry for mercy” refers to:

a) Crying in desperation for help
b) Crying in anger
c) Crying in celebration
Answer: a) Crying in desperation for help

25. “Cry over spilt milk” means:

a) To express regret over something fixable
b) To cry over something minor
c) To cry over something that cannot be undone
Answer: c) To cry over something that cannot be undone

Warp up

Idioms for crying express deep emotions creatively. They capture how we experience sorrow, joy, and frustration. These phrases add vivid imagery to language, making conversations more colorful. Understanding them can help improve communication in various situations.

The list of idioms for crying shows how versatile language is. Each phrase offers a unique way to describe emotions. Whether you’re expressing joy or sorrow, there’s an idiom for crying. Using these expressions will make your speech more engaging and relatable.

James tony