cry someone a river
To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He complains about his easy job, so I tell him to cry me a river.”
“She expects me to feel sorry for her mistakes, but I told her to cry me a river instead.”
“When he began lamenting his minor inconveniences to the group, they sarcastically suggested he cry them a river.”
first recorded 20th c. disputed origin
Probably from the song Cry Me a River (1953).
- 01
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 03
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 04
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
- 05
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
- 06
call someone everything but a child of God
To call someone many abusive names.
- 07
catch someone napping
To take advantage of someone's inattention.
- 08
cry all the way to the bank
To be happy due to the receipt of money, but sad about the cause.
Last updated August 10, 2026