# pipe the eye

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pipe-the-eye
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To weep.

## Examples

- She began to pipe her eye when the movie ended.
- He tried to stay strong, but he started to pipe his eye after reading the sad letter.
- Though she attempted to maintain a stoic composure before the crowd, she could not help but pipe her eye as the final farewell was spoken.

## Origin

The idiom is a metaphor alluding to the boatswain’s pipe, the high-pitched whistle used by a ship's officer to signal the crew to their various duties. The term draws a comparison between the shrill sound of the maritime instrument and the act of weeping.

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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.