Crying is an emotional response that everyone experiences. I share 30 crying idioms that illustrate different aspects of crying. These idioms include funny expressions like “crying over spilt milk,” phrases for intense crying such as “cry your eyes out,” and idioms expressing sadness like “cry the blues.”
Each idiom is explained with a meaning and example. This approach helps in understanding the emotions and situations where these idioms can be used.
List of 30 idioms for crying
- Cry over spilt milk
- Crying for the moon
- Cry baby
- Cry your eyes out
- Cry wolf
- Cry me a river
- All cried out
- Cry crocodile tears
- Cry in one’s beer
- Cry a river
- Cry foul
- Cry with laughter
- Cry over spilt tea
- Cry in the wilderness
- Cry on someone’s shoulder
- Cry uncle
- Cry mercy
- Cry the house down
- Cry for joy
- Cry oneself to sleep
- Cry a bucket
- Cry blue murder
- Cry like a baby
- Crying your heart out
- Tears of joy
- Cry in pain
- Cry the blues
- Crying shame
- Cry one’s heart out
- Crying over split milk
Funny Idioms for Crying
Cry over spilt milk
Meaning: Regret something that cannot be undone.
Example: He cried over spilt milk after breaking the vase.

Crying for the moon
Meaning: Wanting the impossible.
Example: Asking for a day off during the busy season is like crying for the moon.
Cry baby
Meaning: Someone who cries easily.
Example: Don’t be a cry baby about a little scratch.
Cry your eyes out
Meaning: Crying intensely.
Example: She cried her eyes out watching the sad movie.
Cry wolf
Meaning: Raise a false alarm.
Example: He cried wolf so many times that no one believes him now.
Cry me a river
Meaning: Express deep sorrow.
Example: He told her to cry me a river after their breakup.
All cried out
Meaning: Exhausted from crying.
Example: She was all cried out after the argument.
Cry crocodile tears
Meaning: Fake crying.
Example: He cried crocodile tears after getting caught.
Cry in one’s beer
Meaning: Feel sorry for oneself.
Example: He’s just crying in his beer after losing the game.
Cry a river
Meaning: Cry excessively.
Example: She cried a river over her lost necklace.

Cry foul
Meaning: Complain about something unfair.
Example: They cried foul when the referee made a bad call.
Cry with laughter
Meaning: Laugh so hard that you cry.
Example: The joke was so funny, I cried with laughter.
Cry over spilt tea
Meaning: Regret trivial things.
Example: She cried over spilt tea when her project was rejected.
Cry in the wilderness
Meaning: Unheeded warning.
Example: His advice was like crying in the wilderness.
Cry on someone’s shoulder
Meaning: Seek comfort from someone.
Example: She cried on my shoulder after her loss.
Cry uncle
Meaning: Admit defeat.
Example: He had to cry uncle when he couldn’t solve the puzzle.
Cry mercy
Meaning: Plead for leniency.
Example: The players cried mercy during the intense game.
Cry the house down
Meaning: Cry very loudly.
Example: The baby cried the house down all night.
Cry for joy
Meaning: Cry out of happiness.
Example: She cried for joy when she saw her family.

Cry oneself to sleep
Meaning: Cry until falling asleep.
Example: She cried herself to sleep after the bad news.
Cry a bucket
Meaning: Cry a lot.
Example: He cried a bucket when his pet died.
Cry blue murder
Meaning: Complain loudly.
Example: She cried blue murder when they increased the rent.
Idioms for Crying Hard
Cry like a baby
Meaning: Cry uncontrollably.
Example: He cried like a baby when he lost his job.
Crying your heart out
Meaning: Extremely emotional crying.
Example: She was crying her heart out after the breakup.
Tears of joy
Meaning: Happy tears.
Example: He had tears of joy at his graduation.
Cry in pain
Meaning: Cry due to hurt.
Example: The child cried in pain after falling.
Idioms for Sad and Crying
Cry the blues
Meaning: Express deep sadness.
Example: She cried the blues after hearing the bad news.
Crying shame
Meaning: Very regrettable situation.
Example: It’s a crying shame they couldn’t reconcile.

Cry one’s heart out
Meaning: Deeply emotional crying.
Example: He cried his heart out after losing the game.
Crying over split milk
Meaning: Regret something irreversible.
Example: There’s no use crying over split milk now.
What are some funny idioms for crying?
Funny idioms for crying include “cry over spilt milk,” “crying for the moon,” and “cry me a river.” These idioms often add humor to the concept of crying and help lighten the mood when describing regrettable or impossible situations.
Which idioms describe intense crying?
Idioms for intense crying include “cry your eyes out,” “cry like a baby,” and “crying so hard.” These phrases vividly depict extreme emotional responses and are used to convey deep feelings of sorrow or distress.
What idioms express sadness and crying?
Sadness and crying idioms include “cry the blues,” “cry one’s heart out,” and “crying shame.” These idioms are often used to articulate profound sadness or regret.
How do you use idioms for crying in a sentence?
Using idioms for crying in a sentence helps convey specific emotions or situations. For example, “He cried over spilt milk after breaking the vase,” illustrates regret over a past action.