ENGLISH
REFERENCE

weep and wail

idiom
Slang Cockney rhyming slang · East London
Meaning

a tale


Origin

Used exclusively in reference to a beggar's tale.

Examples
SIMPLE

The child began to weep and wail after dropping his ice cream.

CONTEXTUAL

When the team lost the championship in the final minute, the fans started to weep and wail in the stands.

COMPLEX

The tragic news caused the entire village to weep and wail as they gathered in the town square to mourn their loss.

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    cautionary tale

    A story, originally told in folklore, to warn its audience of a certain danger.

  2. 02

    live to tell the tale

    To survive some difficulty, illness, etc.

  3. 03

    tall tale

    A tale or story which is fantastic and greatly exaggerated; also, an account of questionable veracity; a lie, an untruth.

  4. 04

    tell its own tale

    To speak for itself; to require no explanation.

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