What does crocodile tears mean Meaning and Definition
What does crocodile tears mean
Pronunciation
/ˈkrɒkɒdʌɪl ˈtɪrz maɪn/
Part of Speech
Idiom
Definition
A false display of tears, typically used to conceal a person’s true emotions or to gain sympathy.
Etymology
The phrase originates from the ancient practice of crocodile’s tears, where crocodiles were believed to fake crying to lure prey. The term was later applied to humans to describe a similar behavior of feigning tears to gain an emotional advantage.
Usage Notes
The phrase is often used to describe a situation where someone is crying or appears to be crying in order to manipulate or deceive others. It can be used in informal conversations, written texts, and even in formal writing.
Cultural References
The phrase has been referenced in various forms of media, including films, literature, and music. For example, in the novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, the character Tom Sawyer uses the phrase to describe his fake tears.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- Hold crocodile tears
- Shed crocodile tears
- Fake tears
Related Words or Phrases
- Insincere
- Fake
- Manipulative
Collocations
- Crocodile tears are a sign of
- Society expects us to
- It’s easy to spot someone’s
Frequency of Use
The phrase is commonly used in informal conversations and written texts, particularly in cases where emotions are involved. According to corpus linguistics, the phrase has been steadily increasing in usage since the 1980s.
Common Misspellings
- Crocodail tears
- Crordial tears
- Crocodil tears