Definition
Cry (verb): To shed tears as a reaction to pain, distress, or strong emotion. However, in the realm of idioms and expressions, crying can take on many figurative meanings.
Related and Similar Terms
- Weep: To cry with profound emotion.
- Sob: To cry noisily.
- Tear one’s hair out: To show signs of extreme frustration.
- Cry wolf: To raise a false alarm, derived from Aesop’s fable.
- Have a good cry: The therapeutic release and comfort derived from crying.
Common Phrases, Proverbs, and Idioms Involving ‘Cry’
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Cry over spilled milk: To lament something that cannot be changed. 🥛
- Synonyms: Brood over past mistakes, regret the irreversible.
- Antonyms: Let bygones be bygones, move on.
- Example: “There’s no use crying over spilled milk—what’s done is done.”
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Cry me a river: Originally a song title, now used to dismiss someone’s complaints as overly dramatic. 🌊
- Synonyms: Keep on whining, sob story.
- Antonyms: Grin and bear it, stiff upper lip.
- Example: “You missed the bus? Cry me a river—I had to walk ten miles in the snow when I was your age.”
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Cry one’s eyes out: To cry intensely and for a prolonged period.
- Synonyms: Ball one’s eyes out, weep bitterly.
- Example: “After the sad movie, she cried her eyes out.”
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Cry uncle: To surrender or admit defeat.
- Synonyms: Throw in the towel, give up.
- Antonyms: Stand one’s ground, fight to the end.
- Example: “I tried holding my breath longer, but I had to cry uncle.”
Inspiring Quotes
- “It’s okay to cry. Crying purges the soul, just as rain purges the sky.” - Lachry Malaise
- “There’s nothing wrong with a little waterfall from your eyes; it’s just your brain’s natural cleansing tonic.” - Emo P. Anse
Recommended Literature, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
Books:
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith: For its vivid portrayal of emotions and daily struggles.
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: Deep dives into complex emotional truths.
Songs:
- Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake: For a modern, dramatic take on heartbreak.
- Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie: An anthem for emotional resilience.
Poetry:
- A Tear and a Smile by Khalil Gibran: Masterful lines about joy interwoven with sorrow.
- The Rainy Day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: It evokes crying through the metaphor of rain.
Movies:
- Inside Out (2015): An animated exploration of emotions.
- The Fault in Our Stars (2014): A heart-wrenching love story that requires tissues.
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [x] Cry over spilled milk
- [ ] Weep into the cornflakes
- [ ] Scream at the thunder
- [ ] Tear up the sunshine
> **Explanation:** "Cry over spilled milk" is a real idiom expressing regret over something that cannot be undone. The other options are creative but not genuine idioms.
### Which phrase signifies admitting defeat?
- [ ] Cry a river
- [x] Cry uncle
- [ ] Tear the sky
- [ ] Weep like a banshee
> **Explanation:** "Cry uncle" means to surrender or admit defeat. Crying a river is for dramatic complaints, and the others, while colorful, are not idiomatic expressions.
### Finish the idiom: "Don't cry over ____."
- [ ] boiled tea
- [ ] shattered pie
- [x] spilled milk
- [ ] sneezed cats
> **Explanation:** "Don’t cry over spilled milk" is an idiom reminding us not to regret what is already done and can’t be changed.
### True or False: 'Cry wolf' means to tell the truth about a serious situation.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. "Cry wolf" means to raise a false alarm, originating from Aesop’s fable about the boy who falsely claimed that wolves were attacking the sheep.
Remember, it’s perfectly human to let your emotions flow from time to time. Every tear we shed is a testament to our capability to feel deeply and to connect with our human experience.
- Lachry Malaise, 2023
