without tears
1
4.1
- idiom
:
sin dificultades
- She was able to give her presentation smoothly and without tears.
Examples
-
Daniel wept without tears.
Fiction book (2001) -
The meal was prepared quickly and without tears, making the dinner enjoyable.
-
He managed to explain his thoughts clearly and without tears during the discussion.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Without much effort
173
2.3
In an easy, calm way without problems or embarrassment
30
3.1
To do something without needing to try
19
3.2
With no problems and everything going smoothly
7
2.5
In a way that does not cause hurt
7
3.9
In a calm, peaceful way without worry
4
3.8
In a smooth, easy way without pauses
3
5.2
To act calmly and peacefully without showing excitement
1
5.0
In a calm way that does not show feelings
1
5.6
Do something calmly and without strong emotion
Calmly without showing any emotion
Antonyms
How Easy
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'free from difficulty or distress' follows directly from composing 'without' (absence of) with 'tears' (crying), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer 'without crying' and extend that to 'not distressed; easily.' This is a literal, easily computed composition and matches common cross-linguistic patterns, making the phrase transparently interpretable from its parts.
Etymology
The phrase without tears paints a simple picture: doing something with no crying and no strong trouble. So, when you say someone finished a task without tears, you mean they did it 'easily' or 'without hardship'.