cry for help
Acting out as a means of displaying a subconscious desire for attention or help.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“His angry outburst was really a cry for help.”
“She kept skipping class, but her teachers saw it as a cry for help and talked to her.”
“The vandalism seemed like mindless destruction, yet those who knew him understood it as a desperate cry for help from a grieving teenager.”
- 01
can't help
To be unable to avoid a situation, or stop something from happening.
- 02
cry all the way to the bank
To be happy due to the receipt of money, but sad about the cause.
- 03
cry cupboard
To want or need food; to show signs of hunger.
- 04
cry down
To condemn, disparage.
- 05
cry foul
To protest about something which appears to be unjust.
- 06
cry in one's beer
To feel sorry for oneself; to feel sadness or regret, especially in combination with self-pity.
- 07
cry one's eyes out
To weep for an elongated time, or in an excessive manner.
- 08
cry oneself to sleep
To cry until or to fall asleep.
Last updated August 10, 2026