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Meaning & use

crocodile tears

noun·Advanceddisapproving

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UK/ˌkrɒkədaɪl ˈtɪəz/
US/ˌkrɑːkədaɪl ˈtɪrz/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. nounpluraldisapproving

    False tears or a show of sorrow that the person does not truly feel.

    Grammar: Plural with no article: she shed crocodile tears.

    Patterns

    • shed crocodile tears
    • cry crocodile tears

    He shed crocodile tears at the funeral of the man he had cheated.

    Don't waste your crocodile tears on me, because I know you are happy.

    The manager's crocodile tears did not fool the staff.

  2. nounpluralfigurativedisapproving

    An insincere expression of sympathy or regret, even without actual tears.

    Grammar: Often figurative: crocodile tears from politicians.

    Patterns

    • crocodile tears over something

    The company shed crocodile tears over the layoffs while giving its executives bonuses.

    Critics dismissed his apology as crocodile tears.

    Her crocodile tears about the lost trophy fooled nobody.

Common combinations

shed crocodile tears
The ruler shed crocodile tears over the closure.
cry crocodile tears
He cried crocodile tears when he was caught.
nothing but crocodile tears
The speech was nothing but crocodile tears.
dismiss as crocodile tears
Voters dismissed the apology as crocodile tears.
a flood of crocodile tears
A flood of crocodile tears followed the verdict.

Synonyms and how they differ

false sympathy
False sympathy states the same idea plainly but lacks the vivid image of crocodile tears.
insincerity
Insincerity is an abstract word for lack of honesty and does not mention a display of grief.
hypocrisy
Hypocrisy means claiming virtues you do not have, which is broader than faked sadness.
pretense
Pretense means acting as if something is true, with no special link to grief.

Opposites

genuine griefreal tears

Word family

crocodile noun
a large reptile living in rivers
tears noun
drops of liquid from the eyes
tearful adjective
crying or about to cry
insincere adjective
not meaning what you say

Commonly confused: crocodile tears or alligator tears? crocodile tears or tears of joy?

crocodile tears vs alligator tears

Alligator tears is a rare variant; crocodile tears is the standard idiom.

crocodile tears vs tears of joy

Tears of joy are real tears of happiness, the opposite of faked sorrow.

Practice

When someone cries crocodile tears, the tears are ___.

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