Cry me a river

Meaning

The idiom "cry me a river" is used to express exaggerated disappointment or disbelief that someone has done something wrong or that a situation has unfolded in an unfavorable manner. It is a figurative way of saying that the person's actions have caused such extreme frustration or upset that they would need to cry all the water out of a river to express their emotions.

Usage

• When I found out my flight was canceled, I could have cried me a river.
• I can't believe he did that, I would cry me a river if it happened to me.
• She always complains about the weather, even when it's perfect outside. I would cry me a river if I had to listen to her whine every day.
• When they announced that we were losing our jobs, I felt like I could cry me a river.
• He promised he would help me, but he didn't show up when I needed him. That makes me want to cry me a river of disappointment.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "cry me a river" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the idea that someone would need to cry all the water out of a river to express their emotions, while another theory says that it originated as a way of expressing the amount of rain one would need to cry for. The usage of the idiom has remained relatively stable over time, but the meaning may have evolved to reflect changes in society or culture.

Synonyms in English

• "I would drown in tears"
• "I would weep copiously"
• "I would pour out my heart in tears"
• "I would lose it if that happened"
• "That makes me want to cry"

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - Llorar, llagas (to cry, wounds)
• French - Pleurer, sangloter (to cry, weep)
• German - Weinen, Tränen (to cry, tears)
• Italian - Pianere, lacrimare (to cry, shed tears)
• Arabic - دمع (to cry), نبل (tears)

Similar Idioms

• jump on the bandwagon

• way forward

• stand out