cry for

Idioms and Phrases

Also, cry out for ; have a crying need for . Be in urgent need of, as in This wall cries for a second coat of paint , or This car is crying out for a good washing , or There is a crying need for order in this house . The figurative use of cry for , literally meaning “implore” or “weep for,” dates from the late 1500s, as does the use of crying for “demanding attention.” The first variant, alluding to actually shouting out one's needs or desires, dates from the second half of the 1800s.

Example Sentences

“Whatever that element is, it’s crying for all of us. But I think the song is about the hope that Clarence hopefully has at the end of the movie.”

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Riley's name became a rallying cry for conservatives as border security emerged as a defining issue in the White House race.

From BBC

A former member of the Minnesota National Guard, he has a tattoo on his bicep reading “Deus Vult”, a latin phrase meaning “God wills it”, a rallying cry for Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages.

From BBC

"I was just screaming, crying for help," Ms Logan continued.

From BBC

In an emotional Facebook post, Mr Holecek recalled hearing his partner's cries for help and desperately trying to save him.

From BBC

Related Words

• ask
• beseech
• recite
• urge