Meaning of cry someone a river | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
   idiomatic, often, sarcastic
2. To try to obtain the sympathy of another person by complaining or sniveling.
   broadly, idiomatic, sarcastic, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“It is rather shaming to be quite so wet⟳ over nothing in particular, but at least Fielding does it too. He cries gallons over slow-motion bits at the ends of films, especially Gladiator, and begins to worship⟳ Roman values, then Italian footballers kissing in slo-mo to the strains of Nessun Dorma. Sniffle, sniffle. And QPR being relegated in 1996. He can cry⟳ you a river over that one, and over a darling little clump of daffodils growing by the traffic island.”

“Port Authority Transit should cry⟳ me a river. Before raising fares it should cut⟳ an unnecessary expense.”

CEFR level