# weep and wail

idiom · Slang

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/weep-and-wail
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

a tale

## Examples

- The child began to weep and wail after dropping his ice cream.
- When the team lost the championship in the final minute, the fans started to weep and wail in the stands.
- The tragic news caused the entire village to weep and wail as they gathered in the town square to mourn their loss.

## Origin

Used exclusively in reference to a beggar's tale.

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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.