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Glite Dictionary
to cry a river

to cry a river

1 8.7
Complain a lot in a dramatic way about something that upsets you
  • idiom
  • /kraɪ ə ˈrɪvər/
  • Informal
translation icon : llorar un río
  • He always cries a river over small setbacks, making it seem like the end of the world.

So by the time my granddad did die, I'd already cried a river.

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Examples

  • If you can't afford to lose it and it's gone, you're going to be crying, crying a river like Justin Timberlake people.

    Patricia Bright

  • I cried a river over you

    Repo Men (2010)

  • I cried a river over you

    Repo Men (2010)

  • I cried a river over you

    Repo Men (2010)

  • The whore cries a river of tears when he leaves her alone, and comes home to mommy dearest.

    Showgirls 2: Penny's from Heaven (2011)

  • Whenever something goes wrong, she tends to cry a river about it instead of finding a solution.

  • Instead of just dealing with the issue, she just cries a river every time something doesn't go her way.

Synonyms

to whine
vsto cry a river
  • Informal
211 2.8

To complain in a high, annoying voice

emphasizes exaggerated unhappiness rather than just the irritating tone
to lament
vsto cry a river
  • Formal
62 5.0

To show or say that you feel sad about something

covers exaggerated or theatrical unhappiness rather than sincere grief
to bawl
vsto cry a river
39 5.9

Cry or shout loudly and without control

refers to exaggerated complaint or unhappiness even if not loudly expressed
to snivel
vsto cry a river
11 7.4

To complain in a whining, tearful way

focuses on exaggerated complaint generally rather than specifically tearful self-pity
to bitch and moan
vsto cry a river
  • NSFW
8 9.6

To complain a lot in an annoying way

focuses more on exaggerated or theatrical expression of unhappiness
to grumble about
vsto cry a river
6 4.1

To complain quietly about something you do not like

describes exaggerated complaint more openly and strongly rather than quiet gripes
to piss and moan
vsto cry a river
  • Offensive
4 9.9

To complain a lot about small things and annoy others

is about excessive complaint that may be more dramatic than mere grumbling
to turn on the waterworks
vsto cry a river
  • Informal
1 8.4

To start crying to make someone feel sorry for you

refers more broadly to exaggerated unhappiness, not only manipulative crying
to cry the blues
vsto cry a river
  • Informal
1 7.5

To feel sad and complain to others

is about excessive, exaggerated unhappiness rather than sincere sadness
to bellyache
vsto cry a river
  • Informal
1 6.8

To complain a lot in an annoying way

is similar but can also imply stronger exaggeration or theatrical unhappiness
to grouch
vsto cry a river
1 6.4

To complain in a bad-tempered way

is broader, covering exaggerated complaining that may be loud or dramatic
to cry like a pissbaby
vsto cry a river
  • Offensive
9.9

To cry in a very childish way when upset

describes exaggerated complaint more neutrally, not necessarily vulgar or childish
to play the whiner
vsto cry a river
  • Offensive
8.7

Act like a person who complains a lot to get sympathy

covers excessive complaint itself rather than the deliberate roleplaying for gain
to cry in one's beer
vsto cry a river
  • Informal
9.6

To feel sorry for yourself and complain to get sympathy

covers exaggerated complaining generally rather than private, self-pitying sorrow
to grizzle
vsto cry a river
  • UK
8.2

To complain in a sulky, childish way about small things

has a broader sense of exaggerated complaint beyond childish sulking
lamenting
vsto cry a river
  • Formal
5.8

Having a sad sound like a soft song or cry that shows sadness

focuses specifically on exaggerated complaint and not only genuine sorrow

Antonyms

to celebrate
∞ 1.4

To join fun events to mark a special day or achievement

to rejoice
93 3.6

Feel or show that you are very happy

How Complaining

to cry a river
  • Informal
1 8.7
to moan
177 1.0
to complain
∞ 1.0
to grumble
41 3.7

Surface Forms

cry a river infinitive

Morphology

cry + a + river

The image of producing 'a river' of tears from 'cry' + 'river' transparently suggests excessive or exaggerated crying, so the basic hyperbolic sense is derivable from the constituents. However, the conventionalized pragmatic extension to 'complain or make a fuss' is a metaphorical shift that may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure, so the item is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The idiom cry a river paints a picture of someone crying so much, where the cry makes a river. So, to cry a river about something means to 'complain' or show sadness in a way that is too much.