Sometimes, people cry when they feel sad, hurt, or even happy. Crying is a part of how we show our feelings. In English, there are many phrases, or idioms, that talk about crying. These idioms don’t always mean someone is really crying. They use the idea of crying to describe feelings or actions in a fun or interesting way.
This article will help you learn some common idioms for crying. These special sayings can be heard in books, shows, or in real life. Knowing these phrases can help you understand what others mean and make your own speaking more colorful. Let’s take a closer look at idioms that talk about crying and what they really mean.
Idioms For Crying
1. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that already happened and can’t be changed
Give an Instance: She cried over spilled milk when her ice cream fell, but it was already gone. / He got sad about his broken toy, but it was too late.
Substitute Meaning: Feeling bad for something small / Being upset about the past
2. Burst into tears
Meaning: Start crying suddenly
Give an Instance: She burst into tears when she lost her favorite doll. / He burst into tears after falling on the playground.
Substitute Meaning: Started crying fast / Cried all of a sudden
3. Cry one’s eyes out
Meaning: Cry a lot
Give an Instance: He cried his eyes out when his dog ran away. / She cried her eyes out during the sad movie.
Substitute Meaning: Cry for a long time / Cry very hard
4. Be in floods of tears
Meaning: Crying a lot
Give an Instance: She was in floods of tears after saying goodbye to her grandma. / He was in floods of tears when he lost his toy car.
Substitute Meaning: Crying hard / Crying nonstop
5. Cry like a baby
Meaning: Cry loudly like a little child
Give an Instance: He cried like a baby after losing the game. / She cried like a baby when she scraped her knee.
Substitute Meaning: Cry loud / Cry like a little kid
6. Tears well up
Meaning: Start to get tears in your eyes
Give an Instance: Tears welled up when she saw her mom after a week. / He felt tears well up when he missed the bus.
Substitute Meaning: About to cry / Eyes filled with tears
7. Cry at the drop of a hat
Meaning: Cry very easily
Give an Instance: She cries at the drop of a hat during movies. / He cries at the drop of a hat when he gets scolded.
Substitute Meaning: Cries easily / Gets sad fast
8. Break down in tears
Meaning: Start crying because you’re very upset
Give an Instance: He broke down in tears after hearing the bad news. / She broke down in tears when her fish died.
Substitute Meaning: Couldn’t stop crying / Got very emotional
9. A good cry
Meaning: Crying to feel better
Give an Instance: She had a good cry after her bad day. / He felt better after a good cry at home.
Substitute Meaning: Cried to feel okay / Cried and then felt better
10. Choked up
Meaning: Feeling like you want to cry but trying not to
Give an Instance: He was choked up during his speech. / She got choked up at the school play.
Substitute Meaning: Holding back tears / Almost crying
11. Cry your heart out
Meaning: Cry very deeply because of strong feelings
Give an Instance: She cried her heart out when her cat got sick. / He cried his heart out after the big loss.
Substitute Meaning: Cry a lot / Feel really sad
12. All cried out
Meaning: Have no more tears left to cry
Give an Instance: After hours of crying, she was all cried out. / He was all cried out after the movie ended.
Substitute Meaning: Done crying / No more tears
13. Waterworks
Meaning: A lot of crying, often used when someone cries a lot
Give an Instance: He turned on the waterworks after falling. / Mom said, “Here come the waterworks!”
Substitute Meaning: Big crying moment / Lots of tears
14. Cry wolf
Meaning: Ask for help when you don’t need it, then people don’t believe you when you really do
Give an Instance: He cried wolf too many times, so no one helped when he needed it. / She cried wolf about being sick.
Substitute Meaning: Fake crying / Lying about needing help
15. Shed a tear
Meaning: Cry a little
Give an Instance: He shed a tear at the end of the story. / She shed a tear saying goodbye.
Substitute Meaning: One tear / Small cry
16. Cry me a river
Meaning: Said to someone who is crying too much
Give an Instance: “Cry me a river,” he said when his sister kept whining. / She said “Cry me a river” and walked away.
Substitute Meaning: Stop crying / That’s enough tears
17. Not a dry eye
Meaning: Everyone is crying
Give an Instance: At the school concert, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. / During the speech, not a dry eye was seen.
Substitute Meaning: All cried / Everyone was sad
18. On the verge of tears
Meaning: Almost crying
Give an Instance: She was on the verge of tears after the bad grade. / He was on the verge of tears when his toy broke.
Substitute Meaning: About to cry / Nearly crying
19. Have a meltdown
Meaning: Get very upset and start crying
Give an Instance: He had a meltdown in the store. / She had a meltdown when her balloon popped.
Substitute Meaning: Get really upset / Cry a lot suddenly
20. Cry inside
Meaning: Feel sad but don’t show it
Give an Instance: He was crying inside even though he smiled. / She looked fine but was crying inside.
Substitute Meaning: Sad but silent / Hurt but hiding it
21. Tears of joy
Meaning: Crying because of happiness
Give an Instance: She had tears of joy when she saw her new puppy. / He cried tears of joy after winning the game.
Substitute Meaning: Happy crying / Joyful tears
22. Cry buckets
Meaning: Cry a lot
Give an Instance: He cried buckets when his team lost. / She cried buckets after reading the sad book.
Substitute Meaning: Many tears / Crying a lot
23. Eyes brimming with tears
Meaning: Eyes full of tears but not yet crying
Give an Instance: Her eyes were brimming with tears during the speech. / He had eyes brimming with tears when he got hurt.
Substitute Meaning: Almost crying / Full of tears
24. Have a crying fit
Meaning: Cry loudly and for a while
Give an Instance: The baby had a crying fit after waking up. / He had a crying fit when he lost his toy.
Substitute Meaning: Cried for a long time / Loud crying
25. Cry the blues
Meaning: Talk sadly about problems
Give an Instance: She cried the blues about not getting her way. / He cried the blues after losing the race.
Substitute Meaning: Talk about sad stuff / Complain sadly
26. Cry for the moon
Meaning: Want something that can’t happen
Give an Instance: He’s crying for the moon asking for candy before dinner. / She’s crying for the moon wanting a pony.
Substitute Meaning: Wanting too much / Asking for the impossible
27. Reduced to tears
Meaning: Made to cry
Give an Instance: She was reduced to tears by the sad movie. / He was reduced to tears after the tough practice.
Substitute Meaning: Caused to cry / Made really sad
28. Silent tears
Meaning: Crying quietly
Give an Instance: She cried silent tears during class. / He let silent tears fall in bed.
Substitute Meaning: Quiet cry / No sound crying
29. Tears rolling down
Meaning: Crying so tears fall on the face
Give an Instance: Tears rolled down her cheeks during the goodbye. / His tears rolled down after he got hurt.
Substitute Meaning: Crying openly / Visible tears
30. Cry till you sleep
Meaning: Crying so much you fall asleep
Give an Instance: She cried till she slept after the bad day. / He cried himself to sleep when he missed the party.
Substitute Meaning: Cry until sleeping / Cried the whole night
31. Make someone cry
Meaning: Cause another person to cry
Give an Instance: The story made him cry. / She made her sister cry with mean words.
Substitute Meaning: Caused tears / Hurt feelings
32. Bring tears to one’s eyes
Meaning: Make someone feel so moved they almost cry
Give an Instance: Her song brought tears to my eyes. / The kindness brought tears to his eyes.
Substitute Meaning: Made emotional / Almost cried
33. Wipe away tears
Meaning: Stop crying
Give an Instance: She wiped away tears and smiled. / He wiped away tears after the hug.
Substitute Meaning: Dry your face / Stop crying
34. Can’t stop crying
Meaning: Crying too much
Give an Instance: He couldn’t stop crying after the accident. / She couldn’t stop crying when she lost her book.
Substitute Meaning: Cried nonstop / Crying a lot
35. Cry for help
Meaning: Asking for help in a sad or serious way
Give an Instance: His loud cry was a cry for help. / Her words were a cry for help after being alone.
Substitute Meaning: Need help badly / Asking sadly
36. A trail of tears
Meaning: Crying while walking or moving
Give an Instance: She left a trail of tears on the way home. / He walked with a trail of tears after the talk.
Substitute Meaning: Crying as you go / Sad journey
37. In tears
Meaning: Currently crying
Give an Instance: She was in tears after the fall. / He was in tears when he lost the game.
Substitute Meaning: Crying now / Full of emotion
38. Crying fit to burst
Meaning: Crying very strongly
Give an Instance: She was crying fit to burst after the news. / He cried fit to burst when his pet ran away.
Substitute Meaning: Crying very hard / Full of tears
39. Crying jag
Meaning: A long time of crying
Give an Instance: He went on a crying jag after the show. / She had a crying jag after her friend moved away.
Substitute Meaning: Long crying time / Kept crying
40. Cry someone a river
Meaning: Crying too much for someone
Give an Instance: He cried her a river after the fight. / She cried him a river after the goodbye.
Substitute Meaning: Lots of crying for someone / Sad over someone
41. Eyes filled with tears
Meaning: About to cry
Give an Instance: His eyes filled with tears after the sad news. / She had tears in her eyes during the goodbye.
Substitute Meaning: Almost crying / Very emotional
42. Big crocodile tears
Meaning: Fake crying
Give an Instance: He cried big crocodile tears just to get candy. / She showed crocodile tears to avoid trouble.
Substitute Meaning: Pretend tears / Not real crying
43. Crying your soul out
Meaning: Crying from deep sadness
Give an Instance: She cried her soul out when her grandpa passed. / He cried his soul out after the loss.
Substitute Meaning: Deep sadness / Very emotional crying
44. Tears fall like rain
Meaning: Crying a lot
Give an Instance: Her tears fell like rain after the goodbye. / He cried and the tears fell like rain.
Substitute Meaning: Crying hard / So many tears
45. Cry to the heavens
Meaning: Cry loudly to express deep pain
Give an Instance: She cried to the heavens after the sad news. / He cried to the heavens when his dog got lost.
Substitute Meaning: Loud crying / Deep sorrow
Find the “Idioms for Crying”
Reading Passage
Yesterday at school, Mia was having a hard day. First, she forgot her homework and was on the verge of tears. Then, during recess, she tripped and scraped her knee. That’s when she burst into tears. Her best friend, Zoe, came over and helped her to the nurse’s office. Mia tried to smile, but tears were brimming in her eyes.
Later, in class, Mia remembered her fish had died that morning. She didn’t want anyone to see, so she cried inside. By lunchtime, Mia was feeling better, but when she saw her favorite dessert was gone, she almost cried over spilled milk. Zoe handed her a napkin as tears rolled down her cheeks.
That night, Mia told her mom about everything. She shed a tear while talking and then had a good cry before bed. Her mom hugged her and helped her wipe away the tears. After that, Mia smiled and said, “Thanks, Mom. I feel a lot better now.”
Directions for Students
Read the story again. Find and underline or list all the idioms for crying used in the passage.
Answer Key
- On the verge of tears
- Burst into tears
- Tears were brimming in her eyes
- Cried inside
- Cried over spilled milk
- Tears rolled down her cheeks
- Shed a tear
- Had a good cry
- Wipe away the tears
Conclusion
Crying is something we all do when we feel strong emotions. In English, there are many idioms that use the idea of crying to show feelings. These idioms don’t always mean someone is really crying, but they help explain how someone feels inside.
Learning idioms like burst into tears or cry over spilled milk can help you understand others better and make your own stories more interesting. These phrases show emotions in a clear and fun way. Try using them in your own writing or when you talk about feelings. It’s a great way to make your words more colorful and real.
