crocodile tears

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) a hypocritical show of sorrow; insincere tears.
2. (used with a singular verb) Pathology. spontaneous tearing initiated by tasting or chewing food, occurring as a result of facial paralysis.

crocodile tears

plural noun

1. an insincere show of grief; false tears

crocodile tears

1. An insincere show of sympathy or sadness; crocodiles were once thought to “weep” large tears before they ate their victims: “Don't shed any crocodile tears for Fisher; I know you were responsible for his firing.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of crocodile tears¹

First recorded in 1555–65; so called from the ancient belief that crocodiles shed tears while eating their victims

Word History and Origins

Origin of crocodile tears¹

from the belief that crocodiles wept over their prey to lure further victims

Idioms and Phrases

An insincere display of grief, as in When the play's star broke her leg, her understudy wept crocodile tears . This term comes from the mistaken notion that crocodiles weep while eating their prey, one held in ancient Roman times. The actual term was picked up by Shakespeare and many other writers after him, and remains current. [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

And as for larger crocodile tears from Republicans in Congress--oh, boo hoo.

From The Daily Beast

Now Terry Jones is shedding crocodile tears, saying he is "devastated" by the violence, but it was entirely predictable.

From The Daily Beast

The result, predictably enough, was huge deficits, about which Republicans shed crocodile tears, but did almost nothing.

From The Daily Beast

As to Skiddy, he continued at intervals to shed crocodile tears over his past short-comings, or rather his short-goings!

From Project Gutenberg

He died of a broken heart, and all Fuzby built his conspicuous tomb, and shed crocodile tears over his pious memory.

From Project Gutenberg

Crocodile tears though they often are, they have an effect on me which is more than peculiar.

From Project Gutenberg

You've been whimpering like a whipped cur, trying to arouse a lot of sympathy with your crocodile tears.

From Project Gutenberg

He brought forth crocodile tears for the death of his father-in-law.

From Project Gutenberg