cry someone a river
Dismiss excessive complaints
To cry someone a river is to weep excessively or dramatically, but the phrase almost always appears as a dismissive retort: Oh, cry me a river.
Said to someone complaining or seeking sympathy, it means their grievance doesn't merit the tears they're shedding—or threatening to shed.
The tone ranges from playful to contemptuous.
- crocodile tearsInsincere show of sadness
- boo hooImitation sobbing noise
- build a bridge and get over itDismissive advice to stop complaining
- spare mePlea to stop talking
- weepShed tears emotionally
cry · sob story · overstate · sardonic · exaggeration · facetious · mocking · trivialize · snarky · patronize · woe is me · expression · cynical · derisive · tongue-in-cheek · flippant · violin · dismiss
cry someone a rivercomfort
Ease or soothing relief
console · empathize · commiserate · sympathize · soothe
cry someone a riverfeel someone's pain
Emotionally comprehend another's distress
crying, crier, someone, river, rivers, riverine, riverbank, riverside