cry one's eyes out
Meaning: To cry very hard and for a long time.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “She cried her eyes out when her dog died.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: A hyperbole, as if crying so much the eyes would come out. It is found from the 18th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Pleurer comme une Madeleine — literally: To weep like a Magdalene
More idioms — Body & Senses
- hale and hearty — Healthy and strong, especially in old age.
- break a leg — Good luck, said to a performer before going on stage.
- an eye for an eye — Punishment should match the injury; revenge in kind.
- grease someone's palm — To bribe someone.
- go by shanks' mare — To walk; to travel on foot.
- have a foot in both camps — To be involved with two opposing sides at once.
More English idioms
- make sheep's eyes at — To look at someone in a lovesick, foolish way (dated).
- much ado about nothing — A lot of fuss about something unimportant.
- you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar — Kindness persuades people better than harshness.
- a rare bird — An unusual person or thing.
- follow the herd — To do what everyone else does without thinking.
- a leopard can't change its spots — People cannot change their basic nature.