to cry like a pissbaby

9.9

To cry in a very childish way when upset

idiom
/kraɪ laɪk ə ˈpɪsˌbeɪbi/

Offensive

: llorar como un niñato (vulgar)

Whenever things get tough, he tends to cry like a pissbaby instead of facing the problem.

Examples

Don't cry like a pissbaby just because you didn't get your way.
He always cries like a pissbaby when things don't go his way.
She told me not to cry like a pissbaby after I lost the bet.
Don't cry like a pissbaby just because you lost!
Whenever he faced criticism, he would cry like a pissbaby instead of accepting it.
My friend tends to cry like a pissbaby when she doesn't win at games.
He really started to cry like a pissbaby after only one mistake during the presentation.

Synonyms

to weep

vsto cry like a pissbaby

208 1.1

To cry and let tears fall because you feel sad or have strong feelings

is presented as immature and mocking rather than genuine tearful emotion

to bawl

vsto cry like a pissbaby

39 5.9

Cry or shout loudly and without control

is framed as childish and excessive rather than simply loud expression

to burst into tears

vsto cry like a pissbaby

24 2.4

To suddenly cry because of a strong feeling

is framed as immature and excessive rather than a sudden natural reaction

to sob

vsto cry like a pissbaby

15 1.0

To cry with short, noisy breaths

is more about immature, excessive crying than genuine overwhelming feeling

to blubber

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Informal

14 6.1

To cry loudly and without control, often while talking

is more insulting, stressing immature and excessive display rather than deep sorrow

to cry one's eyes out

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Informal

7 4.2

Cry for a long time because you feel very sad

is more about immature whining than deep, prolonged sorrow

to piss and moan

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Offensive

4 9.9

To complain a lot about small things and annoy others

focuses on immature emotional display rather than only verbal complaining

to bawl one's eyes out

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Informal

3 7.6

Cry very loudly and for a long time

is judged as immature and mocking rather than purely intense grief

to cry the blues

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Informal

1 7.5

To feel sad and complain to others

casts that expression as immature and excessive rather than simply sad

to blub

vsto cry like a pissbaby

1 9.2

Cry in a noisy, gasping way

is more mocking and implies childish weakness rather than sincere grief

to cry a river

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Informal

1 8.7

Complain a lot in a dramatic way about something that upsets you

is more vulgar and aims to belittle the person as immature

to cry in one's beer

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Informal

9.6

To feel sorry for yourself and complain to get sympathy

is more crude and stresses childish lack of resilience rather than mere self-pity

to yaup

vsto cry like a pissbaby

Archaic

9.9

To make long, loud, harsh cries repeatedly

is seen as immature whining rather than repetitive harsh shouting

to baw

vsto cry like a pissbaby

9.9

To cry loudly because you feel upset or hurt

is considered more insulting and focused on lack of resilience than distress

Antonyms

to keep it together

Informal

27 5.4

To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

How Immature

to cry like a pissbaby

Offensive

9.9

whine

Informal

28 3.0

to cry

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

cry like a pissbaby infinitive

cried like a pissbaby past

cried like a pissbaby past participle

crying like a pissbaby present participle

cries like a pissbaby third person singular

Morphology

cry + like + a + pissbaby

The core idea 'cry like a baby' is compositionally clear from 'cry' + 'like' + 'baby', so learners can infer the general sense of immature or excessive crying. However, 'pissbaby' is a slang, vulgar coinage whose exact connotations rely on slang knowledge and cultural usage (and the vulgar element 'piss' may be unknown or off-putting), so the expression is only partially predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Cry like a pissbaby is rude slang that shows the image of a baby who wets itself, a pissbaby, and cries loudly and cannot control its feelings. So people use it to say someone is 'immature' or 'acting like a child' when they cry instead of facing a problem.