Sometimes we feel so sad that words don’t seem enough. When people cry, it can be because they are hurt, worried, or even happy. Over time, people have come up with special sayings to describe these strong feelings. These sayings are called idioms. Idioms are short phrases that mean something different than what the words seem to say.
In this article, we will look at idioms about crying. These phrases help us talk about feelings in a more colorful way. You might hear some of these in books, movies, or even in everyday conversation. By learning these idioms, you can understand others better and maybe even use them in your own writing.
Idioms About Crying
1. Cry your eyes out
Meaning: To cry a lot
Example Sentence:
• She cried her eyes out after her puppy got lost.
• He cried his eyes out when the movie ended sadly.
Other ways to say: Sob hard, weep a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase paints a picture of crying so much it feels like your eyes might fall out.
Usage: Used when someone cries for a long time.
2. Burst into tears
Meaning: To suddenly start crying
Example Sentence:
• The girl burst into tears when she dropped her ice cream.
• He burst into tears after hearing the bad news.
Other ways to say: Start crying, break down
Fun Fact/Origin: “Burst” means something happens quickly or suddenly, like a balloon popping.
Usage: Used when someone suddenly starts crying.
3. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something small or something that already happened
Example Sentence:
• Don’t cry over spilled milk, we can clean it up.
• He was crying over spilled milk after losing the game.
Other ways to say: Let it go, don’t stress over it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old times when milk was valuable, but once it spilled, it couldn’t be saved.
Usage: Used when someone is upset about something they can’t change.
4. Cry wolf
Meaning: To ask for help when you don’t really need it
Example Sentence:
• If you cry wolf too often, people won’t believe you.
• He cried wolf again about losing his homework.
Other ways to say: Fake alarm, trick people
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from an old story where a boy lies about a wolf attack too many times.
Usage: Used when someone tricks others by pretending to be in trouble.
5. Boo-hoo
Meaning: A sound used to describe someone crying
Example Sentence:
• Boo-hoo, the baby is crying again.
• She went “boo-hoo” when she lost her toy.
Other ways to say: Sob, whimper
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s an onomatopoeia, which means it sounds like what it describes.
Usage: Often used to show someone is crying, especially in a silly or teasing way.
6. In floods of tears
Meaning: Crying a lot
Example Sentence:
• She was in floods of tears after saying goodbye.
• He came home in floods of tears after the game.
Other ways to say: Crying hard, sobbing
Fun Fact/Origin: It compares heavy crying to a flood of water.
Usage: Used when someone is crying heavily.
7. Tears well up
Meaning: Tears start to form in the eyes
Example Sentence:
• Tears welled up when she saw her family again.
• His eyes welled up during the sad movie.
Other ways to say: Start to cry, tear up
Fun Fact/Origin: “Well up” means something rises, like water from a spring.
Usage: Used when tears start but haven’t fallen yet.
8. Cry buckets
Meaning: To cry a lot
Example Sentence:
• She cried buckets after her pet fish died.
• He cried buckets when he missed the school trip.
Other ways to say: Weep heavily, cry non-stop
Fun Fact/Origin: The idea is that you cry so much it could fill buckets.
Usage: Used when someone cries a large amount.
9. Cry a river
Meaning: To cry so much it feels like a river
Example Sentence:
• He cried a river after the final score was announced.
• She cried a river when her best friend moved away.
Other ways to say: Cry a lot, sob deeply
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to the song “Cry Me a River” which made this idiom popular.
Usage: Used to describe deep sadness.
10. A shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who listens when you’re sad
Example Sentence:
• After the test, she needed a shoulder to cry on.
• He gave his friend a shoulder to cry on during hard times.
Other ways to say: Someone to talk to, someone who comforts
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of leaning on someone while crying.
Usage: Used when someone supports another during sadness.
11. Waterworks
Meaning: A lot of crying
Example Sentence:
• She turned on the waterworks after the story ended.
• The waterworks started as soon as the sad part came.
Other ways to say: Cry loudly, weep
Fun Fact/Origin: Like turning on a faucet, waterworks means tears flowing fast.
Usage: Used when someone cries a lot.
12. Cry one’s heart out
Meaning: To cry deeply with strong feelings
Example Sentence:
• He cried his heart out when his dog passed away.
• She cried her heart out after losing the game.
Other ways to say: Sob deeply, mourn
Fun Fact/Origin: It means crying as if your heart is pouring out sadness.
Usage: Used when someone is very emotional while crying.
13. Cry on cue
Meaning: To cry exactly when needed
Example Sentence:
• Actors can cry on cue during scenes.
• She could cry on cue like a movie star.
Other ways to say: Cry instantly, fake tears
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in acting when someone can cry whenever they want.
Usage: Used when someone can cry quickly or for show.
14. Drown in tears
Meaning: Crying so much it feels like swimming in tears
Example Sentence:
• After the goodbye, he drowned in tears.
• She was drowning in tears when her balloon flew away.
Other ways to say: Cry nonstop, soaked in tears
Fun Fact/Origin: Exaggerates crying to the level of flooding.
Usage: Used when someone cries for a long time.
15. Cry the blues
Meaning: To complain or be very sad
Example Sentence:
• He cried the blues after his team lost.
• She cried the blues about her broken phone.
Other ways to say: Moan, grieve
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from “blues” music, which often tells sad stories.
Usage: Used when someone talks about their sadness.
16. Break down in tears
Meaning: To suddenly start crying
Example Sentence:
• She broke down in tears during the speech.
• He broke down in tears after the surprise.
Other ways to say: Lose control, sob suddenly
Fun Fact/Origin: “Break down” means to lose control of emotions.
Usage: Used when someone can’t hold in tears anymore.
17. Be in tears
Meaning: To be crying
Example Sentence:
• He was in tears after the test.
• She was in tears watching the sad movie.
Other ways to say: Crying, weeping
Fun Fact/Origin: A simple way to say someone is crying.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is currently crying.
18. Tear up
Meaning: To get watery eyes
Example Sentence:
• He teared up when he saw his old dog.
• She teared up during the sad song.
Other ways to say: Get emotional, start to cry
Fun Fact/Origin: “Tear” means a drop from the eye; it sounds like “tare.”
Usage: Used when someone almost starts crying.
19. Cry to sleep
Meaning: To cry until falling asleep
Example Sentence:
• She cried herself to sleep that night.
• He cried to sleep after losing his toy.
Other ways to say: Cry all night, weep until tired
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when someone is very sad before bed.
Usage: Used when someone cries for a long time at night.
20. All cried out
Meaning: No tears left to cry
Example Sentence:
• She was all cried out after the sad news.
• He was all cried out after the fight.
Other ways to say: Done crying, out of tears
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular phrase in songs about sadness.
Usage: Used when someone has cried so much they can’t cry anymore.
21. Cry bloody murder
Meaning: To cry very loudly
Example Sentence:
• The baby cried bloody murder at the doctor’s office.
• He cried bloody murder when he got stung.
Other ways to say: Scream and cry, howl
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase is very old and shows intense upset.
Usage: Used when someone is screaming in tears.
22. Wail like a banshee
Meaning: To cry or scream very loudly
Example Sentence:
• She wailed like a banshee during the thunderstorm.
• He wailed like a banshee after falling off his bike.
Other ways to say: Cry out loud, scream
Fun Fact/Origin: A banshee is a spirit from old stories that cries loudly.
Usage: Used when someone cries with a loud voice.
23. Tears of joy
Meaning: Crying because of happiness
Example Sentence:
• She had tears of joy when she saw her dad return.
• He cried tears of joy after winning the game.
Other ways to say: Happy tears, joyful crying
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows that people cry not just from sadness, but also joy.
Usage: Used when someone cries from happiness.
24. Cry a storm
Meaning: To cry a lot, like rain pouring
Example Sentence:
• She cried a storm after the sad ending.
• He cried a storm when his friend moved away.
Other ways to say: Weep hard, sob like rain
Fun Fact/Origin: Connects crying to stormy rain.
Usage: Used when someone’s crying seems endless.
25. Cry the day away
Meaning: Cry for a long time
Example Sentence:
• She cried the day away after losing the race.
• He cried the day away when his dog was sick.
Other ways to say: Cry all day, spend the day in tears
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows how sadness can last for hours.
Usage: Used when crying goes on for most of the day.
26. Shed a tear
Meaning: To cry just a little
Example Sentence:
• He shed a tear during the goodbye.
• She shed a tear while reading the letter.
Other ways to say: Tear up, let a tear fall
Fun Fact/Origin: “Shed” means to let something fall.
Usage: Used when someone cries a tiny bit.
27. Cry like a baby
Meaning: To cry loudly and without stopping
Example Sentence:
• She cried like a baby after getting a shot.
• He cried like a baby when his toy broke.
Other ways to say: Wail, sob uncontrollably
Fun Fact/Origin: Babies cry often and loudly, so this is a strong image.
Usage: Used when someone cries hard, like a baby.
28. Choke up
Meaning: To feel like crying and be unable to speak
Example Sentence:
• He choked up during the speech.
• She choked up when talking about her grandma.
Other ways to say: Get emotional, almost cry
Fun Fact/Origin: It feels like your throat tightens when you’re about to cry.
Usage: Used when tears or emotion make talking hard.
29. Tears stream down
Meaning: To have tears running down your face
Example Sentence:
• Tears streamed down her cheeks during the sad scene.
• His tears streamed down after losing the game.
Other ways to say: Tear up, face covered in tears
Fun Fact/Origin: “Stream” compares tears to a little river.
Usage: Used when tears flow freely.
30. Cry till you can’t cry anymore
Meaning: To cry until there’s nothing left
Example Sentence:
• She cried till she couldn’t cry anymore.
• He cried until he had no more tears.
Other ways to say: Cry yourself out, sob until tired
Fun Fact/Origin: It shows crying as a tiring action.
Usage: Used for long, deep crying.
31. Cry a little
Meaning: To cry a small amount
Example Sentence:
• He cried a little after losing his toy.
• She cried a little during the song.
Other ways to say: Tear up, sniffle
Fun Fact/Origin: “A little” shows it wasn’t a lot.
Usage: Used for small amounts of tears.
32. Bawl like a baby
Meaning: To cry very loudly
Example Sentence:
• He bawled like a baby when he got hurt.
• She bawled like a baby after the sad story.
Other ways to say: Cry loudly, weep hard
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bawl” means to cry with sound.
Usage: Used when crying is noisy and strong.
33. On the verge of tears
Meaning: About to cry
Example Sentence:
• She was on the verge of tears after the talk.
• He was on the verge of tears before his speech.
Other ways to say: Almost crying, close to tears
Fun Fact/Origin: “Verge” means the edge.
Usage: Used when someone is nearly crying.
34. Sniffle and sob
Meaning: Crying softly with sniffling
Example Sentence:
• She sniffled and sobbed under the blanket.
• He sniffled and sobbed after losing his balloon.
Other ways to say: Whimper, soft crying
Fun Fact/Origin: “Sniffle” is the sound of a runny nose during crying.
Usage: Used when crying is soft and quiet.
35. Cry a fit
Meaning: To cry in a dramatic way
Example Sentence:
• He cried a fit over not getting candy.
• She cried a fit after bedtime was called.
Other ways to say: Throw a tantrum, wail
Fun Fact/Origin: A “fit” means strong emotions.
Usage: Used when someone is crying with drama.
36. Cry like there’s no tomorrow
Meaning: To cry really hard
Example Sentence:
• She cried like there was no tomorrow after the bad grade.
• He cried like there was no tomorrow when his team lost.
Other ways to say: Cry nonstop, sob deeply
Fun Fact/Origin: It means crying so hard that nothing else matters.
Usage: Used for strong emotional crying.
37. Let the tears fall
Meaning: Allow yourself to cry
Example Sentence:
• He let the tears fall during the goodbye.
• She let the tears fall while hugging her friend.
Other ways to say: Don’t hold it in, cry openly
Fun Fact/Origin: Tears are natural, and this idiom supports expressing feelings.
Usage: Used to describe not holding back crying.
38. A face full of tears
Meaning: Tears covering the face
Example Sentence:
• Her face was full of tears after the ending.
• His face was full of tears when he got in trouble.
Other ways to say: Covered in tears, wet cheeks
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows how much someone has cried.
Usage: Used when someone’s face is wet from crying.
39. Cry until red-eyed
Meaning: Cry so much your eyes turn red
Example Sentence:
• He cried until his eyes were red and puffy.
• She cried until red-eyed from the goodbye.
Other ways to say: Tear-stained, weepy
Fun Fact/Origin: Eyes often turn red after long crying.
Usage: Used when crying affects how someone looks.
40. Cry till your voice breaks
Meaning: Cry so much it changes your voice
Example Sentence:
• She cried till her voice broke while talking.
• He cried so hard his voice got hoarse.
Other ways to say: Cry hard, sob out loud
Fun Fact/Origin: Intense crying can make it hard to speak.
Usage: Used when crying is heavy and loud.
41. Cry in silence
Meaning: Cry without making any noise
Example Sentence:
• She cried in silence in her room.
• He sat alone and cried in silence.
Other ways to say: Quiet crying, silent tears
Fun Fact/Origin: Not all crying is noisy.
Usage: Used when someone cries quietly.
42. Cry your lungs out
Meaning: Cry very loudly
Example Sentence:
• He cried his lungs out at the hospital.
• She cried her lungs out during the thunderstorm.
Other ways to say: Wail, bawl
Fun Fact/Origin: Exaggerates crying as if lungs are working hard.
Usage: Used for very loud crying.
43. Cry in vain
Meaning: Cry without changing the outcome
Example Sentence:
• He cried in vain for another chance.
• She cried in vain over the broken vase.
Other ways to say: Useless tears, hopeless crying
Fun Fact/Origin: “In vain” means without purpose or result.
Usage: Used when crying doesn’t help.
44. Cry in someone’s arms
Meaning: Cry while being comforted by someone
Example Sentence:
• She cried in her mom’s arms after the accident.
• He cried in his dad’s arms after losing the game.
Other ways to say: Be comforted, seek support
Fun Fact/Origin: Arms are often where people feel safe when crying.
Usage: Used when someone is being hugged while crying.
45. Cry like it’s the end of the world
Meaning: Cry as if something terrible just happened
Example Sentence:
• He cried like it was the end of the world over his lost toy.
• She cried like it was the end of the world after the movie.
Other ways to say: Cry like crazy, sob hard
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom exaggerates to show strong emotion.
Usage: Used for extreme sadness.
Quiz: Idioms About Crying
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “cry your eyes out” mean?
A) To wash your face with water
B) To cry a lot
C) To close your eyes
2. If someone “bursts into tears,” what are they doing?
A) Laughing loudly
B) Suddenly starting to cry
C) Falling asleep
3. What does it mean to “cry over spilled milk”?
A) To enjoy a glass of milk
B) To be upset about something you can’t fix
C) To clean up a mess happily
4. What does “cry wolf” mean?
A) To make a loud animal sound
B) To ask for help when not needed
C) To play with animals
5. If someone “cries buckets,” what are they doing?
A) Carrying heavy buckets
B) Crying a little
C) Crying a lot
6. What does “shed a tear” mean?
A) To smile brightly
B) To cry just a little
C) To run in the rain
7. If a person “is in tears,” how do they feel?
A) They are laughing
B) They are crying
C) They are singing
8. What does it mean to “choke up”?
A) To eat too fast
B) To feel too emotional to speak
C) To drink water quickly
9. If someone “cries to sleep,” what happened?
A) They fell asleep while laughing
B) They cried until they fell asleep
C) They had a bad dream
10. What are “tears of joy”?
A) Tears from cutting onions
B) Tears because of pain
C) Tears from being happy
11. What does it mean to “let the tears fall”?
A) To stop crying
B) To allow yourself to cry
C) To clean up tears
12. If someone “cries like a baby,” how are they crying?
A) Very softly
B) Very loudly and hard
C) Without any sound
13. What does “on the verge of tears” mean?
A) About to start crying
B) Finished crying
C) Laughing instead of crying
14. If someone “cries a river,” what are they doing?
A) Taking a boat ride
B) Crying a lot
C) Drinking water
15. What does “a shoulder to cry on” mean?
A) Someone who cries a lot
B) Someone who makes you cry
C) Someone who listens and comforts you
Answer Key
- B) To cry a lot
- B) Suddenly starting to cry
- B) To be upset about something you can’t fix
- B) To ask for help when not needed
- C) Crying a lot
- B) To cry just a little
- B) They are crying
- B) To feel too emotional to speak
- B) They cried until they fell asleep
- C) Tears from being happy
- B) To allow yourself to cry
- B) Very loudly and hard
- A) About to start crying
- B) Crying a lot
- C) Someone who listens and comforts you
Wrapping Up
Crying is something everyone does, and idioms help us talk about it in a better way. From small tears to loud sobs, there are many sayings that show how people feel. These phrases make language more colorful and help us understand each other’s emotions.
Now that you’ve learned 45 idioms about crying, try using a few in your writing or everyday talk. They can help you express your feelings in a stronger, clearer way. And next time you hear someone use one, you’ll know just what it means.
