Crying is one of the most natural ways humans express emotion, whether it comes from sadness, disappointment, frustration, relief, or even overwhelming joy. In English, we often use colorful idioms and phrases to describe crying and strong emotional reactions in a more vivid and natural way. These idioms for crying go beyond the literal act of shedding tears; they help speakers express feelings with depth, emotion, and personality. Learning these expressions can improve your vocabulary, make your conversations sound more fluent, and help you better understand the emotions behind everyday English phrases.
Understanding Crying Through Idioms
Crying is a universal expression of human emotion. People cry when they feel sad, heartbroken, frustrated, overwhelmed, relieved, or even extremely happy. In English, instead of simply saying someone “cried,” we often use idioms that describe emotions in a more colorful, creative, and memorable way. These idioms for crying carry meanings beyond their literal words, making conversations, stories, and writing more expressive and engaging. Whether you’re an English learner looking to expand your vocabulary or a writer searching for vivid expressions, understanding these idioms will help you communicate emotions more naturally.
Everyday & Common Idioms For Crying
- Cry Your Eyes Out – To cry very hard for a long time.
Example: She cried her eyes out after saying goodbye to her best friend. - Burst Into Tears – To suddenly begin crying.
Example: The little boy burst into tears when he lost his toy. - Break Down in Tears – To lose emotional control and start crying.
Example: He broke down in tears during the farewell speech. - Be in Tears – To be crying or visibly upset.
Example: She was in tears after hearing the sad news. - Fight Back Tears – To try not to cry.
Example: He fought back tears while thanking his parents. - Hold Back the Tears – To stop yourself from crying.
Example: She held back the tears during the graduation ceremony. - Move Someone to Tears – To make someone cry with emotion.
Example: The touching movie moved everyone to tears. - Reduce Someone to Tears – To make someone cry because of strong emotions.
Example: The harsh criticism reduced him to tears. - Cry Like a Baby – To cry loudly or uncontrollably.
Example: I cried like a baby after watching the emotional ending. - Cry Over Spilled Milk – To be upset about something that cannot be changed.
Example: There’s no use crying over spilled milk; let’s fix the problem. - Have a Good Cry – To cry freely and feel emotionally better afterward.
Example: She had a good cry and felt much calmer. - Well Up With Tears – To have tears fill your eyes.
Example: His eyes welled up with tears during the reunion. - Eyes Fill With Tears – To begin crying.
Example: Her eyes filled with tears when she read the letter. - On the Verge of Tears – Very close to crying.
Example: She looked on the verge of tears after the argument. - In Floods of Tears – Crying heavily.
Example: The child was in floods of tears after falling down. - Tear Up – To begin getting emotional and almost cry.
Example: I always tear up during that song. - Get Choked Up – To become too emotional to speak.
Example: He got choked up while thanking his family. - Sob Your Heart Out – To cry intensely for a long time.
Example: She sobbed her heart out after the breakup. - Bawl Your Eyes Out – To cry very loudly and uncontrollably.
Example: The toddler bawled his eyes out at bedtime. - Cry a River – To cry excessively or complain too much.
Example: He cried a river after losing the game. - Be Reduced to Tears – To be made to cry.
Example: The emotional speech reduced many people to tears. - Wipe Away the Tears – To stop crying and dry your tears.
Example: She wiped away the tears and smiled again. - Tears Stream Down Your Face – To cry heavily.
Example: Tears streamed down his face during the farewell. - Have Tears in Your Eyes – To be close to crying.
Example: She had tears in her eyes while watching the performance. - Cry in Silence – To cry without letting others know.
Example: He cried in silence after everyone left. - Shed Tears – To cry.
Example: Many people shed tears during the memorial service. - Cry Out in Pain – To shout while crying because of pain.
Example: The injured player cried out in pain. - Cry From the Heart – To cry sincerely with deep emotion.
Example: Her heartfelt apology made him cry from the heart. - Be Close to Tears – Almost ready to cry.
Example: She was close to tears after the stressful day. - Tears of Joy – Tears caused by happiness.
Example: The parents cried tears of joy at the wedding. - Tears of Relief – Tears caused by relief.
Example: He shed tears of relief after hearing the good news. - Tears of Sorrow – Tears caused by sadness.
Example: They wept tears of sorrow at the funeral. - Weep Bitterly – To cry with great sadness.
Example: She wept bitterly over the loss of her pet. - Cry Yourself to Sleep – To fall asleep after crying.
Example: He cried himself to sleep after the argument. - Be Heartbroken – To feel deep emotional pain.
Example: She was heartbroken and couldn’t stop crying. - Wear a Long Face – To look sad or disappointed.
Example: Don’t wear such a long face; things will get better. - Look Like You’ve Lost Your Best Friend – To appear extremely sad.
Example: Why do you look like you’ve lost your best friend? - Melt Into Tears – To suddenly become tearful.
Example: She melted into tears after hearing the apology. - Tears Roll Down Your Cheeks – To cry visibly.
Example: Tears rolled down his cheeks during the ceremony. - Cry From Happiness – To cry because of overwhelming joy.
Example: She cried from happiness when she got the job offer.
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Rare Crying Idioms Worth Learning
- Have a Lump in Your Throat – To feel so emotional that it’s difficult to speak.
Example: I had a lump in my throat during the farewell. - Heart in Your Mouth – To feel intense emotion or anxiety.
Example: My heart was in my mouth as I waited for the results. - Waterworks Turn On – To suddenly start crying.
Example: As soon as she saw her family, the waterworks turned on. - Not a Dry Eye in the House – Everyone present was crying.
Example: There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after the tribute. - Cry Crocodile Tears – To pretend to be sad.
Example: He cried crocodile tears after getting caught. - Tug at the Heartstrings – To make someone feel deep sympathy.
Example: The documentary tugged at everyone’s heartstrings. - Be All Choked Up – To become too emotional to speak.
Example: She was all choked up while giving the speech. - Pour Out Your Heart – To express deep emotions openly.
Example: He poured out his heart to his best friend. - Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve – To show your emotions openly.
Example: She wears her heart on her sleeve. - Tear at Someone’s Heart – To cause deep emotional pain.
Example: The tragic story tore at my heart. - Cry Blue Murder – To scream or complain loudly.
Example: The child cried blue murder after falling. - Heart-Wrenching – Extremely sad or moving.
Example: The film was heart-wrenching. - Bring a Tear to Someone’s Eye – To make someone emotional.
Example: His kind words brought a tear to my eye. - Dissolve Into Tears – To suddenly begin crying.
Example: She dissolved into tears after hearing the news. - Open the Floodgates – To release strong emotions all at once.
Example: Seeing the old photos opened the floodgates.
Idioms For Crying in Pop Culture
- Ugly Cry – To cry intensely without worrying about appearance.
Example: That movie made me ugly cry. - Happy Tears – Tears caused by joy.
Example: The finale brought happy tears to fans. - Emotional Roller Coaster – A series of changing emotions.
Example: The TV series was an emotional roller coaster. - Pull at the Heartstrings – To make people feel emotional.
Example: The song pulled at my heartstrings. - Tearjerker – Something that makes people cry.
Example: That film is a real tearjerker. - Break Someone’s Heart – To cause deep sadness.
Example: The ending broke everyone’s heart. - Hit You Right in the Feels – To create a strong emotional reaction.
Example: That scene hit me right in the feels. - Cue the Waterworks – Time to start crying.
Example: Cue the waterworks–the reunion scene is here. - Cry Me a River – Stop complaining or crying excessively.
Example: Lost your phone? Cry me a river. - Feels Like a Punch in the Gut – Causes intense emotional pain.
Example: The plot twist felt like a punch in the gut. - Rip Your Heart Out – To leave someone emotionally devastated.
Example: That ending ripped my heart out. - Bring on the Tissues – Something is very emotional.
Example: Bring on the tissues before watching the finale. - Heart-Melting – Extremely touching.
Example: The reunion scene was heart-melting. - Cry Happy Tears – To cry because of happiness.
Example: Fans cried happy tears after the victory. - All the Feels – Experiencing many strong emotions.
Example: That episode gave me all the feels. - Gut-Wrenching – Deeply upsetting.
Example: The documentary was gut-wrenching. - Emotional Damage – Humorous phrase for emotional hurt.
Example: That ending gave me emotional damage. - Sob Fest – An event or movie that makes everyone cry.
Example: The romance movie turned into a sob fest. - Hit Close to Home – To affect someone personally.
Example: The story hit close to home, and I cried. - Leave Someone in Tears – To make someone cry.
Example: The performance left the audience in tears.
Words Related to Crying You Should Know
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sob | To cry loudly with deep, uneven breaths because of strong emotion. |
| Weep | To cry quietly or gently, usually because of sadness or grief. |
| Bawl | To cry very loudly and uncontrollably. |
| Wail | To cry out loudly in pain, sorrow, or distress. |
| Whimper | To make soft, weak crying sounds, often because of fear or discomfort. |
| Snivel | To cry while sniffing repeatedly, often in a childish or complaining way. |
| Shed Tears | To let tears fall from your eyes as a sign of emotion. |
| Sobbing | The act of crying with repeated gasps and heavy breathing. |
| Tearful | Having tears in your eyes or feeling close to crying. |
| Lament | To express deep sorrow, grief, or regret, often through crying or mourning. |
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Using Crying Idioms Naturally
- Match the Idiom to the Emotion
Choose an idiom that fits the situation. For example, use “burst into tears” for sudden sadness and “tears of joy” for happy moments. - Use Idioms in Everyday Conversations
Practice using crying idioms when talking about movies, books, personal experiences, or emotional events to make your English sound more natural. - Don’t Overuse Them
Idioms are most effective when used occasionally. Mixing idioms with plain English keeps your speech clear and engaging. - Learn the Context
Some crying idioms express genuine sadness, while others, like “cry over spilled milk” or “cry crocodile tears,” have different meanings. Always understand the context before using them. - Listen to Native Speakers
Watch English movies, TV shows, podcasts, or interviews to hear how native speakers naturally use crying idioms in real-life conversations.
Practical Ways to Remember Crying Idioms
- Group Idioms by Emotion
Organize idioms into categories like sadness, happiness, regret, sympathy, or frustration. This makes them easier to recall. - Create Your Own Example Sentences
Write a personal sentence for each idiom. Relating it to your own experiences helps you remember it better. - Use Flashcards
Write the idiom on one side and its meaning with an example on the other. Review them regularly for better retention. - Practice Through Stories
Include several crying idioms in a short story or diary entry. Using them in context strengthens your memory. - Review a Few Idioms Every Week
Instead of memorizing dozens at once, revise 5–10 idioms each week and use them in conversations or writing.
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Test Yourself Crying Idioms
- Which idiom means to start crying suddenly?
A. Hold back the tears
B. Burst into tears
C. Wear a long face
D. Cry over spilled milk
Answer: B. Burst into tears - Which idiom means to be upset about something that cannot be changed?
A. Cry over spilled milk
B. Tear up
C. Move to tears
D. Be in tears
Answer: A. Cry over spilled milk - If someone fights back tears, they are:
A. Laughing loudly
B. Trying not to cry
C. Sleeping peacefully
D. Feeling angry
Answer:B. Trying not to cry - Which idiom describes pretending to be sad?
A. Burst into tears
B. Cry crocodile tears
C. Cry your eyes out
D. Tears of joy
Answer: B. Cry crocodile tears - What does “move someone to tears” mean?
A. Make someone laugh
B. Make someone cry because of strong emotion
C. Make someone angry
D. Make someone confused
Answer: B. Make someone cry because of strong emotion - Which idiom refers to crying because of happiness?
A. Cry me a river
B. Tears of joy
C. Wear a long face
D. Break down in tears
Answer: B. Tears of joy - Someone who cried their eyes out:
A. Smiled all day
B. Cried very hard for a long time
C. Pretended to cry
D. Didn’t cry at all
Answer: B. Cried very hard for a long time - Which idiom means to become too emotional to speak?
A. Get choked up
B. Cry a river
C. Shed tears
D. Weep bitterly
Answer: A. Get choked up - If there was not a dry eye in the house, it means:
A. Everyone was laughing.
B. Everyone was crying.
C. The room was empty.
D. Nobody was paying attention.
Answer: B. Everyone was crying. - Which idiom means to cry loudly and uncontrollably?
A. Hold back the tears
B. Bawl your eyes out
C. Well up with tears
D. Be close to tears
Answer: B. Bawl your eyes out
FAQs
Conclusion
Crying is a natural way to express emotions, and English offers many colorful idioms to describe different kinds of tears, from sadness and disappointment to happiness and relief. Learning these idioms for crying can make your vocabulary richer, your writing more expressive, and your conversations sound more natural. Whether you’re an English learner, student, writer, or language enthusiast, understanding when and how to use these idioms will help you communicate emotions with confidence. Keep practicing them in everyday conversations, stories, and writing, and you’ll soon find yourself using these expressions like a native speaker.
