# come home by weeping cross

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/come-home-by-weeping-cross
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To return in disappointment, or in a spirit of contrition.

## Examples

- He went to the city but came home by weeping cross.
- After his ambitious business venture failed completely, he had to come home by weeping cross to face his family.
- The young soldier, having ignored his father's wise counsel and suffered a bitter defeat, returned to the village to come home by weeping cross.

## Origin

The idiom is derived from a common English placename, used to denote the former site of a stone cross. Such locations were once widespread across the landscape, marking the intersection of roads or parish boundaries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.