Crocodile tears
Significado: False, insincere tears; pretending to be sad.
'Crocodile tears' are fake tears—pretending sorrow without genuine feeling. Crocodiles were believed to weep while eating prey, making them symbols of hypocritical sorrow.
Ejemplos
- Don't fall for her crocodile tears. 别被她的鳄鱼眼泪骗了。No te dejes engañar por sus lágrimas de cocodrilo.彼女のワニの涙に騙されるな。그녀의 거짓 눈물에 속지 마.
- He shed crocodile tears at the funeral. 他在葬礼上流了鳄鱼眼泪。Derramó lágrimas de cocodrilo en el funeral.彼は葬式でうそ泣きした。그는 장례식에서 거짓 눈물을 흘렸다.
- Those are just crocodile tears—he doesn't care. 那只是鳄鱼眼泪——他根本不在乎。Son solo lágrimas de cocodrilo, no le importa.あれはただのうそ泣きだ—彼は気にしていない。저건 그냥 거짓 눈물이야—그는 신경도 안 써.
Pronunciación
/ˈkrɒkədaɪl tɪəz/
Guía de uso
Contexto: deception, insincerity, manipulation
Tono: suspicious, critical
✓ Correcto
- Crocodile tears鳄鱼眼泪——假惺惺的泪水lágrimas de cocodriloクロコダイル・ティアーズ — 偽りの涙악어의 눈물
- Crying crocodile tears流鳄鱼眼泪llorando lágrimas de cocodriloうそ泣きする거짓 눈물을 흘리다
Errores comunes
- Always means insincere sorrow
Origen e historia
Medieval belief held that crocodiles wept while devouring prey. Though crocodiles do produce tears (to lubricate their eyes), the 'weeping killer' image created this idiom for false sorrow.
Etimología: Medieval belief that crocodiles wept while eating prey
Primera vez registrado: 14th century onwards
Contexto cultural
Era: 14th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Medieval bestiaries
Regional notes: English-language universal.
Variaciones
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