She is just taking out an onion to get her way.
take out an onion
idiomSuggests that the performer of the action is not sincere in their grief.
Origin
The vapours from sliced onions cause tears, allowing someone to pretend to cry. Coined by Private Eye and used as a mock stage description, originally to describe Harold MacMillan.
Everyone knew she was taking out an onion because she only started crying when the boss walked into the room.
His performance of grief was so transparently false that the audience immediately recognized he was merely taking out an onion to manipulate their sympathy.
- 01
cross to take up
Alternative form of cross to bear.
- 02
eat the onion
To unwittingly and erroneously interpret a work of satire as literal fact, particularly a piece published by The Onion.
- 03
forget to take one's medication this morning
To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.
- 04
give and take
A process of compromise or accommodation.
- 05
give someone an inch and someone will take a mile
Alternative form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile.
- 06
I take it
Used to express one's understanding of another's position.
- 07
kick ass and take names
To beat someone in a competition, fight, or other situation.
- 08
let nature take its course
To permit events to proceed or a situation to develop without intervention or interference.