Tears are a universal language, and idioms for crying help us express deep emotions in vivid, creative ways. Whether it’s heartbreak, relief, or sheer joy, these idiomatic expressions capture the human experience with color and personality.
From phrases like “cry me a river” to “burst into tears,” idioms about crying show up in everyday conversations, books, movies, and songs. They help us say more with less and often carry humor, irony, or intensity.
If you’re a writer, student, or language lover, learning idioms for crying will add emotional depth and flair to your communication. Get ready to explore the many ways we talk about tears without shedding one.
Idioms for Crying
Crying is a powerful way to express deep emotions. English has many idioms that describe different ways people show their feelings through tears. These idioms help us talk about sadness, joy, grief, and other strong emotions.
1. Crying over spilled milk
This idiom means being upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed. It’s like feeling regret over a small mistake. For example, if you drop your ice cream, there’s no use crying over spilled milk. You can’t undo it.
2. Shed tears
To shed tears is to cry. It’s a simple way to say someone is expressing human emotion through tears. People might shed tears during a sad movie or at a touching moment.
3. Cry one’s heart out
When someone cries their heart out, they are expressing deep grief or heartbreak. It’s a way to describe intense sobbing due to emotional pain.
4. To be in tears
Being in tears means someone is crying. It shows they are overwhelmed by emotion, whether it’s sadness, joy, or another strong feeling.
5. To cry wolf
This idiom refers to someone who raises a false alarm. If someone keeps pretending to be in trouble, people might not believe them when they are truly in need. It’s about losing trust due to fake expressions of distress.
6. Crying for the moon
This phrase describes someone who wants something they can’t have. It’s like wishing for the impossible, showing a longing that leads to despair.
7. Burst into tears
To burst into tears means to start crying suddenly. It often happens when someone is overwhelmed by emotion, such as hearing bad news or experiencing a touching moment.
8. Idioms for Crying Tearjerker
Some idioms describe situations that make people cry easily, like watching a sad movie or hearing a touching story.
9. Crying like a baby
This idiom means someone is crying loudly and uncontrollably, similar to how a baby cries. It’s used to describe intense sobbing.
10. To have a good cry
Having a good cry means allowing oneself to cry to feel better. It’s a way to release emotional tension and find relief.
11. Idioms for Crying To cry foul
To cry foul means to complain that something is unfair. It’s not about actual crying but expressing emotional dissatisfaction.
12. Crying in the wilderness
This phrase describes someone expressing an opinion or warning that no one listens to. It’s like feeling alone in your emotional expression.
13. To tear up
To tear up means to have tears come to your eyes, often due to strong emotion, but not necessarily crying fully.
14. To cry for help
This idiom means to ask for assistance, often in a desperate situation. It’s a literal and figurative way to express emotional need.
15. To cry your eyes out
Crying your eyes out means to cry intensely for a long time. It’s a vivid way to describe deep sorrow or grief.
16. To be all cried out
Being all cried out means someone has cried so much that they have no more tears left. It shows complete emotional exhaustion.
17. To have tears in your eyes
Having tears in your eyes indicates you’re about to cry or are deeply moved by emotion.
18. To cry in one’s beer
This idiom describes someone feeling sorry for themselves, often while drinking. It’s about indulging in self-pity.
19. To cry one’s eyes out
Similar to #15, this idiom emphasizes intense sobbing due to strong emotional pain.
20. To cry over lost milk
A variation of “crying over spilled milk,” it means being upset over something that can’t be changed, highlighting regret.
21. To cry a river
This phrase exaggerates crying a lot, as if forming a river with one’s tears. It emphasizes intense sorrow.
22. To have a tearful goodbye
A tearful goodbye involves crying when parting from someone, showing deep emotion and farewell sadness.
23. To be on the verge of tears
Being on the verge of tears means you’re about to cry, often due to overwhelming emotion.
24. To cry for joy
Crying for joy means shedding tears due to extreme happiness. It’s a positive emotional expression.
25. To cry buckets
This idiom means to cry a lot, as if filling buckets with tears. It emphasizes heavy sobbing.
26. To be a blubbering mess
Being a blubbering mess means crying uncontrollably and being unable to compose oneself, showing intense emotional breakdown.
27. To cry out loud
Crying out loud means expressing emotion vocally, not just silently shedding tears.
28. Idioms for Crying To shed a tear
Shedding a tear means crying a little, often due to mild emotion.
29. To cry like a waterfall
This vivid idiom describes someone crying continuously, like water flowing from a waterfall, indicating intense sobbing.
30. To cry out in despair
Crying out in despair means expressing deep sorrow vocally, often in hopeless situations.
31. To cry in silence
Crying in silence means shedding tears quietly, without making noise, often due to personal grief.
32. To cry in one’s soup
This idiom describes someone feeling sorry for themselves, often while eating, indicating self-pity.
33. To cry for mercy
Crying for mercy means pleading for compassion or forgiveness, showing desperation and emotional vulnerability.
34. To cry out for attention
This phrase describes someone seeking recognition or help, often through dramatic emotional displays.
35. To cry tears of sorrow
Crying tears of sorrow means expressing deep grief through crying.
36. To cry for the stars
This idiom means desiring something unattainable, showing longing and emotional yearning.
37. To cry for the past
Crying for the past means feeling sadness over things that have changed or been lost.
38. To cry with laughter
Crying with laughter means laughing so hard that tears come, showing intense joy.
39. To cry for change
This phrase describes a strong desire for transformation, often expressed through passionate emotion.
40. To cry out in joy
Crying out in joy means expressing happiness vocally, often accompanied by tears.
41. To cry bitter tears
Crying bitter tears means expressing deep regret or grief.
42. To cry in relief
Crying in relief means shedding tears after a stressful situation ends positively.
43. To cry during a farewell
This idiom describes crying when saying goodbye, showing deep emotion and sadness.
44. To cry for joy and sorrow
Crying for joy and sorrow means experiencing mixed emotions, leading to tears.
45. To cry with pride
Crying with pride means shedding tears due to overwhelming happiness and satisfaction.
46. Cry me a river
This idiom is often used sarcastically to tell someone to stop complaining or being overly emotional. When someone says, “Cry me a river,” they are implying that the other person is exaggerating their sadness or grief, and they should move on. It’s a common crying expression in informal conversations, especially when there’s little sympathy for the person’s situation.
47. Cry blood
To “cry blood” means to suffer deeply or to feel extreme emotional pain. While it’s more dramatic than usual idioms, it vividly describes unbearable heartbreak, often due to mourning or betrayal. This phrase reflects the highest level of emotional intensity, where regular tears aren’t enough to express the sorrow.
48. Cry yourself to sleep
This emotional idiom describes someone crying so much, usually from heartbreak, grief, or overwhelming sadness, that they eventually fall asleep in tears. It conveys a deep emotional release, often during moments of mourning, regret, or intense despair. It’s a powerful crying expression that reflects the rawness of human emotion and the need for comfort during tough times.
Quiz 45 Idioms for Crying
What does “crying over spilled milk” mean?
A) Worrying about the past
B) Crying without a reason
C) Getting upset over a small issue
Answer: A
“To cry one’s heart out” refers to:
A) Crying very briefly
B) Crying deeply and for a long time
C) Crying silently
Answer: B
What does “to cry foul” imply?
A) Complaining about something unfair
B) Crying loudly in public
C) Asking for help
Answer: A
“Crying like a baby” means:
A) Crying in a low voice
B) Crying loudly and helplessly
C) Crying just to get attention
Answer: B
What does “to cry for joy” mean?
A) Crying because of sadness
B) Crying from happiness
C) Crying with no clear reason
Answer: B
What does “to cry a river” mean?
A) Crying excessively
B) Crying quietly
C) Crying out of frustration
Answer: A
“To be on the verge of tears” means:
A) To cry a little bit
B) To be very close to crying
C) To cry constantly
Answer: B
Conclusion
Idioms for crying add emotion, depth, and relatability to language. They capture raw feelings like sadness, frustration, or even joyful tears in vivid, memorable ways. Whether you’re writing a story, expressing sympathy, or just trying to be more expressive, these idioms can help you connect with your audience. Phrases like “cry over spilled milk” or “bawl your eyes out” paint a clear emotional picture without needing many words. So, the next time you want to express sorrow or vulnerability, reach for one of these powerful idioms they speak louder than tears ever could.
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