# crying shame

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/crying-shame
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A situation that is considered to be a disgrace, or deplorable.

## Examples

- It is a crying shame that the park is so dirty.
- The old theater is closing down next month, which is a crying shame for the local community.
- It remains a crying shame that such a talented artist never received the recognition she deserved during her lifetime.

---

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.