cry for

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

“George’s name has become a rallying cry for those who believe in a better future, one where all people are treated with dignity and respect,” it reads.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

But this dissent is not just a theatrical temper tantrum; it is a cry for help.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2025

Do not cry for Kelly, he can sleep gently on a thick mattress of $100 bills.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

Online ravings about “tiger blood” and “winning!” earned him a Live Nation tour with a cry for help as its title: “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not An Option.”

From Salon • Sep. 12, 2025

“Whoa! He’s on the move. Lock and load, boys. I have a feeling that any second we’re going to be gettin’ a cry for help.”

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Related Words

• ask
• beseech
• recite
• urge