“Crocodile Tears” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 3, 2024 by Liam Daniel

Have you ever heard the term ‘crocodile tears’ used in English conversation and wondered what the speaker was referring to? Here we will take a look at what this term means and how we can use it in our daily conversations. We will also look into where the saying came from.

Crocodile Tears Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • “Crocodile tears” refers to insincere or fake expressions of sadness or sympathy. The phrase comes from the ancient myth that crocodiles shed tears while consuming their prey. It is used to describe someone who pretends to feel sorry or sad, typically to deceive or manipulate others.
Crocodile Tears
Crocodile Tears – Created by 7ESL

Crocodile Tears Meaning

The phrase “crocodile tears” refers to insincere or feigned expressions of sorrow or grief. It suggests that someone is pretending to be upset or sympathetic while actually lacking genuine emotion or concern. The expression comes from the ancient belief that crocodiles would weep while consuming their prey, leading to the notion that their tears were not genuine.

Examples:

  • “She shed crocodile tears at the meeting, but everyone knew she wasn’t really sorry for her actions.”
  • “His crocodile tears didn’t convince anyone; we all knew he was just trying to avoid the consequences.”

In essence, using “crocodile tears” implies that the emotion being expressed is not authentic and is meant to manipulate or deceive others.

Origin of This Idiom

The phrase ‘crocodile tears’ is said to have derived from the notion that crocodiles cry when they eat their prey. Referring to the ingenuine nature of the tears cried by a person, as the tears of a crocodile are not shed because they are sad about eating their prey.

Usage of Crocodile tears

  1. Public Apologies: “The politician’s apology seemed like crocodile tears, as many believed he was only sorry because he got caught.”
  2. Personal Conflict: “After hurting her feelings, he offered crocodile tears, but she knew he didn’t really care.”
  3. Business Situations: “The CEO’s speech was full of crocodile tears after laying off employees, but the company’s profits continued to rise.”

In all these cases, “crocodile tears” implies a lack of true emotion behind the tears or apology.

Related Terms to “Crocodile Tears”

  • False tears – tears that are not genuine; an insincere display of emotion.
  • Phony grief – pretending to be sad or upset without real feelings.
  • Pretended sorrow – feigning sadness for effect or manipulation.
  • Hypocritical sympathy – showing compassion or concern without genuine feelings.
  • Feigning emotion – pretending to feel something that one does not truly feel.
  • Disingenuous tears – tears that are not honest or sincere.
  • Playing the victim – pretending to be harmed or wronged to gain sympathy.
  • Miserable façade – putting on a show of being unhappy while not being sincere.
  • Acting – pretending to feel or express emotions for effect.
  • Insincere sympathy – showing compassion without true concern.

Other Ways to Say the Phrase

There are other ways in which you are able to express the meaning behind the phrase ‘crocodile tears.’ Here are a few examples.

  • Insincere tears
  • Fake tears
  • Phony tears
  • Insincere display of emotions
  • Affected tears

“Crocodile Tears” Examples

You would use the term ‘crocodile tears’ when talking about someone who is crying but who doesn’t mean it. For example, if someone is crying in order to get sympathy or attention from someone but is not actually feeling any emotion. You might say something along the lines of ‘Susan, stop crying those crocodile tears, we all know you’re not actually upset about hurting your sister.’

Conversation Examples

If you are interested to know how to use the term ‘crocodile tears’ in a conversation, here are some examples of how it would fit into conversation

Conversation 1:

  • Person 1: “I wish that Emily would stop with her crocodile tears.”
  • Person 2: “I know, she never shows any genuine emotion when it matters.”

Conversation 2:

  • Person 1: (whilst crying) “I am so sorry for taking your bicycle.”
  • Person 2: “No, you’re not sorry at all and you can turn off those crocodile tears too.”

Example Sentences

  • The sight of George shedding crocodile tears made me sick.
  • Let’s have no more politicians shedding crocodile tears for the unemployed.
  • They weep crocodile tears for the poor, but are basically happy with things as they are.
  • He showed his crocodile tears when aunt died.
  • They were only crying crocodile tears at the old man’s funeral.
  • Don’t soften your heart; he was shedding crocodile tears.
  • My daughter already had crocodile tears sprounting in her eyes.
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