How do you use "Crocodile tears" in a sentence?

Don't fall for her crocodile tears. He shed crocodile tears at the funeral. Those are just crocodile tears—he doesn't care.

Crocodile tears

Q: What does "Crocodile tears" mean?

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.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: False, insincere tears; pretending to be sad.

假惺惺的眼泪；假装悲伤。

Lágrimas falsas e insinceras; fingir tristeza.

偽りの涙、心にもない涙、悲しいふりをすること。

거짓 눈물; 슬픈 척하는 것.

'Crocodile tears' are fake tears—pretending sorrow without genuine feeling. Crocodiles were believed to weep while eating prey, making them symbols of hypocritical sorrow.

'Crocodile tears（鳄鱼的眼泪）'是假眼泪——没有真正的感情却假装悲伤。人们曾相信鳄鱼在吃猎物时会流泪，因此成为虚伪悲伤的象征。

Las 'crocodile tears' (lágrimas de cocodrilo) son lágrimas falsas — fingir tristeza sin sentimiento genuino. Se creía que los cocodrilos lloraban mientras comían a sus presas, convirtiéndolos en símbolo de la tristeza hipócrita.

「クロコダイル・ティアーズ（ワニの涙）」は嘘の涙—本心からの感情なしに悲しみを装うことです。ワニは獲物を食べながら涙を流すと信じられていたため、偽善的な悲しみの象徴となりました。

'Crocodile tears(악어의 눈물)'는 진심 없이 슬픈 척하며 흘리는 가짜 눈물입니다. 악어가 먹이를 먹으면서 눈물을 흘린다는 속설에서 유래했으며, 위선적인 슬픔의 상징입니다.

Examples

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.

Pronunciation

/ˈkrɒkədaɪl tɪəz/

Usage Guide

Context: deception, insincerity, manipulation

Tone: suspicious, critical

✓ Do Say

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

Common Mistakes

Always means insincere sorrow

Origin & History

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.

Etymology: Medieval belief that crocodiles wept while eating prey

First recorded: 14th century onwards

Cultural Context

Era: 14th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Medieval bestiaries

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

Crocodile tears

Crocodile tears

Examples

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

✓ Do Say

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

Cultural Context

Variations

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