crocodile tears

American  

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) a hypocritical show of sorrow; insincere tears.

2. (used with a singular verb) spontaneous tearing initiated by tasting or chewing food, occurring as a result of facial paralysis.

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crocodile tears British  

plural noun

1. an insincere show of grief; false tears

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crocodile tears Cultural  

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.”

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crocodile tears Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of crocodile tears

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

Example Sentences

Adam Sandler has no crocodile tears for “Happy Gilmore” co-star Morris the alligator — he has fond jokes instead.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025

The secret killers shedding crocodile tears over breakfast of smoked salmon!

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2025

"We won't wait for the accident which is about to happen to see everyone shed crocodile tears ... safety should be on the front line," wrote the rail workers' union.

From Reuters • Mar. 6, 2023

Some of us suspected this was a gush of crocodile tears.

From Washington Post • Sep. 23, 2021

Canning's crocodile tears should not move me; the hoops of the Maids of Honour should not hide him.

From Sydney Smith by Russell, George William Erskine