From tears of joy to tears of sorrow, our eyes become the canvas for our innermost emotions. Metaphors for crying provide a captivating glimpse into the poetic language we use to describe this universal human experience.
In this article, we will explore various metaphors for crying, delving into their meanings and using each one in a sentence to illustrate their usage.
Metaphors for Crying
1. Crying a River
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea that a person’s tears are flowing in a constant stream, like a river.
In a Sentence: She was so heartbroken that she felt like she was crying a river, and there was no end to her tears.
2. Weeping Willows
Meaning: This metaphor compares a person’s tears to the branches of a willow tree, which are known for their long, slender, and graceful appearance.
In a Sentence: Her eyes glistened with weeping willows as she recounted the bittersweet memories of her childhood.
3. Crying Wolf
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of pretending to be in distress or trouble when there is none, as in the story of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
In a Sentence: Sarah had a tendency to cry wolf whenever she wanted attention, making it difficult for her friends to trust her when she genuinely needed help.
4. Crying over Spilt Milk
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of being upset or distressed over something that cannot be changed or undone.
In a Sentence: Instead of crying over spilt milk, he decided to learn from his mistakes and move forward with a positive attitude.
5. Crying Foul
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of protesting or objecting to something that is perceived as unfair or unjust.
In a Sentence: The employees were crying foul when they discovered that the promotion had been unfairly awarded to someone less qualified.
6. Crying Crocodile Tears
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of pretending to be emotionally affected by something when in reality, the person is not truly distressed.
In a Sentence: He claimed to be deeply moved by the charity’s mission, but we suspected he was just crying crocodile tears to win favor.
7. Cry Me a River
Meaning: This phrase is similar to “crying a river” and refers to the idea of expressing a lot of emotion or tears.
In a Sentence: When he heard the heartwarming story, it moved him to the point where he wanted to cry me a river.
8. Crying on Someone’s Shoulder
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of seeking comfort or support from someone during a time of emotional distress.
In a Sentence: After a long, tiring day, she needed nothing more than to cry on her best friend’s shoulder and share her burdens.
9. Crying out for Help
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of seeking assistance or support when in a state of distress or need.
In a Sentence: When the storm hit, the stranded hikers were crying out for help, hoping that someone would come to their rescue.
10. Crying over Spilled Blood
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of being upset or distressed over the loss of life or injury.
In a Sentence: In the aftermath of the accident, the entire community was crying over spilled blood, mourning the lives that had been lost.
11. Crying Tears of Joy
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of expressing extreme happiness or elation through tears.
In a Sentence: When she saw her long-lost brother at the airport, she couldn’t help but cry tears of joy at their reunion.
12. Crying Tears of Sorrow
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of expressing extreme sadness or grief through tears.
In a Sentence: At the funeral, the family members gathered to mourn, and there were many who cried tears of sorrow for their departed loved one.
13. Crying Tears of Frustration
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of expressing extreme frustration or disappointment through tears.
In a Sentence: After hours of trying to fix the broken computer, he finally gave in to his frustration and started crying tears of frustration.
14. Crying Tears of Rage
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of expressing extreme anger or resentment through tears.
In a Sentence: When he heard the unjust verdict, he felt a surge of anger and began crying tears of rage in the courtroom.
15. Crying Buckets
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of shedding a large amount of tears.
In a Sentence: The heart-wrenching movie made the entire audience cry buckets, with tissues in hand to wipe away their tears.
16. Crying One’s Eyes Out
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of shedding a large amount of tears, to the point that one’s eyes are very red and swollen.
In a Sentence: She had been crying her eyes out for hours after the breakup, and her puffy eyes were evidence of her emotional turmoil.
17. Crying on the Inside
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of suppressing one’s emotions and not showing them outwardly, even though one may be feeling a lot of pain or distress.
In a Sentence: Despite her cheerful demeanor, she was actually crying on the inside, dealing with a hidden sorrow that nobody knew about.
18. Crying Wolf Again
Meaning: This phrase is similar to “crying wolf” and refers to the idea of pretending to be in distress or trouble when there is none, especially if it has happened before.
In a Sentence: He had a habit of crying wolf again and again, making it hard for anyone to take him seriously in times of genuine need.
19. Crying over Something Small
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of being overly sensitive or emotional about something that is not considered a major problem or issue.
In a Sentence: She was always crying over something small, like a minor disagreement with her friend, making mountains out of molehills.
20. Crying Wolf One Too Many Times
Meaning: This phrase is similar to “crying wolf” and refers to the idea of pretending to be in distress or trouble when there is none, to the point that others stop believing or paying attention.
In a Sentence: After crying wolf one too many times, he found that nobody was willing to lend a helping hand when he truly needed it.
21. Crying Tears of Relief
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of expressing a sense of relief or gratitude through tears.
In a Sentence: When the lost child was found safe and sound, the parents couldn’t help but cry tears of relief and hug their child tightly.
22. Crying Tears of Shame
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of expressing a sense of embarrassment or remorse through tears.
In a Sentence: As he apologized for his mistake, tears of shame rolled down his cheeks, revealing the depth of his regret.
23. Crying in One’s Pillow
Meaning: This metaphor refers to the idea of shedding tears in private or in a hidden place, such as on a pillow.
In a Sentence: She couldn’t bear to let anyone see her vulnerability, so she spent the night crying in her pillow, away from prying eyes.
24. Crying Wolf for Attention
Meaning: This phrase is similar to “crying wolf” and refers to the idea of pretending to be in distress or trouble in order to gain attention or sympathy.
In a Sentence: Mark had a habit of crying wolf for attention, always claiming to be in crisis to attract others’ concern.
25. Crying Wolf to Manipulate
Meaning: This phrase is similar to “crying wolf” and refers to the idea of pretending to be in distress or trouble in order to manipulate or influence others.
In a Sentence: She suspected that her co-worker was crying wolf to manipulate their boss into giving them preferential treatment.
Summary
| Metaphor | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Crying a River | Tears flowing continuously like a river. |
| Weeping Willows | Tears compared to graceful willow branches. |
| Crying Wolf | Pretending distress or trouble when there’s none. |
| Crying over Spilt Milk | Being upset over something that can’t be changed. |
| Crying Foul | Objecting to something perceived as unfair. |
| Crying Crocodile Tears | Pretending to be emotionally affected. |
| Cry Me a River | Expressing a lot of emotion or tears. |
| Crying on Someone’s Shoulder | Seeking comfort during emotional distress. |
| Crying out for Help | Seeking assistance in a state of need. |
| Crying over Spilled Blood | Being upset over the loss of life or injury. |
| Crying Tears of Joy | Expressing extreme happiness through tears. |
| Crying Tears of Sorrow | Expressing extreme sadness or grief through tears. |
| Crying Tears of Frustration | Expressing extreme frustration or disappointment. |
| Crying Tears of Rage | Expressing extreme anger or resentment through tears. |
| Crying Buckets | Shedding a large amount of tears. |
| Crying One’s Eyes Out | Shedding a large amount of tears, eyes red and swollen. |
| Crying on the Inside | Suppressing emotions, not showing them outwardly. |
| Crying Wolf Again | Pretending distress repeatedly, making it hard to trust. |
| Crying over Something Small | Being overly sensitive about minor issues. |
| Crying Wolf One Too Many Times | Pretending distress excessively, leading to disbelief. |
| Crying Tears of Relief | Expressing relief or gratitude through tears. |
| Crying Tears of Shame | Expressing embarrassment or remorse through tears. |
| Crying in One’s Pillow | Shedding tears in private or hidden. |
| Crying Wolf for Attention | Pretending distress for attention or sympathy. |
| Crying Wolf to Manipulate | Pretending distress to manipulate or influence others. |
Conclusion
Crying is a profound and natural expression of human emotions, and metaphors provide us with a rich tapestry of language to describe this complex experience.
From rivers of tears to willow branches of sorrow, these metaphors remind us of the depth and diversity of our emotional lives. Whether we’re shedding tears of joy, sorrow, or frustration, the language of crying allows us to connect with our own feelings and the feelings of others in a uniquely poetic way.