Crying Your Eyes Out: When Hyperbole Goes Overboard
Definition
To weep or mourn excessively. This hyperbole—how could weeping actually cause eyes to fall out?—dates back at least to the early eighteenth century.
Historic Tidbits
The phrase appears in Colley Cibber’s 1705 play, The Careless Husband (Act 1, Scene 1), where we find: “I could cry my eyes out.” It also graces the pages of Jonathan Swift’s Polite Conversation (1738). By the nineteenth century, especially in popular romantic novels like Margaret Oliphant’s Joyce (1888), it morphed into expressions like “crying one’s heart out.”
Similar Terms, Idioms, and Proverbs
- Crying a river: Emphasizing the idea of producing an unending flow of tears.
- Boohooing: Informal and humorous term to mention excessive crying.
- Having a good blub: Another informal way to describe a heavy crying session.
- Pouring one’s heart out: Typically means sharing a lot of emotional content verbally, rather than the physical act of crying.
Synonyms
- Weeping
- Sobbing
- Bawling
- Blubbering
Antonyms
- Laughing
- Rejoicing
- Smiling
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “I cried so hard that I’m sure Noah himself is jealous of my flood.” – Unknown
Related Proverbs
- “Crying doesn’t indicate that you’re weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you’re alive.” – Charlotte Bronte
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte captures the essence of heart-wrenching sorrow.
- Song: “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie humorously addresses crying and the idea of toughing it out.
- Poetry: Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” is laden with sorrow, though more about lost love.
- Movie: La La Land – Featuring moments where characters deal with enormous amounts of disappointment and sadness.
Farewell Thought
In moments when tears inevitably fall, let them cleanse your soul and nourish your tomorrow. Much like the exaggerated cliché, even in our lowest points, there exists the possibility for superhuman resilience.
✨ Until next time, dear reader, keep your eyes firmly in their sockets!
