crying

burst into tears and burst out crying

Fig. to begin to cry suddenly. After the last notes of her song, the audience burst into tears, such was its beauty and tenderness. The children burst into tears on hearing of the death of their dog.

See also: burst, tear

crying need (for someone or something)

Fig. a definite or desperate need for someone or something. There is a crying need for someone to come in and straighten things out. All the people in that area have a crying need for a local hospital.

See also: need

crying shame

Fig. a very unfortunate situation; a real shame. It's a crying shame that people cannot afford adequate housing. That your father could not attend graduation was a crying shame.

See also: shame

For crying out loud! and For crying in a bucket!

Inf. an exclamation of shock, anger, or surprise. Fred: For crying out loud! Answer the telephone! Bob: But it's always for you! John: Good grief! What am I going to do? This is the end! Sue: For crying in a bucket! What's wrong?

See also: out

It's no use crying over spilled milk. and Don't cry over spilled milk.

Prov. Do not be upset about making a mistake, since you cannot change that now. I know you don't like your new haircut, but you can't change it now. It's no use crying over spilled milk. OK, so you broke the drill I lent you. Don't cry over spilled milk.

See also: milk, spill, use

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a (lone) voice in the wilderness  also a voice crying in the wilderness

if you are a voice in the wilderness, you are the only person expressing a particular opinion, although later other people understand that you were right With her passionate pleas for peace, she was a lone voice in the wilderness.

See also: voice, wilderness

For crying out loud!  (informal)

something that you say when you are annoyed For crying out loud! Can't you leave me alone even for a minute!

See also: out

It's a crying shame!

something that you say when you think a situation is wrong (often + that ) It's a crying shame that she only gets one month's maternity leave.

It's no good/use crying over spilt milk.  also There's no point crying over spilt milk.

something that you say which means you should not get upset about something bad that has happened that you cannot change Sometimes I regret not taking that job in London. Oh well, there's no point crying over spilt milk.

See also: good, milk

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a (lone) voice in the wilderness also a voice (crying) in the wilderness

someone who expresses an idea or opinion that is not popular For many years, she was a lone voice in the wilderness who wrote about the need for better urban planning.

See also: voice, wilderness

burst into tears

to suddenly cry She burst into tears when she read the rejection letter. Every time I thought about it I'd burst into tears.

See also: burst, tear

for crying out loud (spoken)

I am annoyed or surprised by this No, I haven't bought her a present yet. Her birthday is a month away, for crying out loud.

Usage notes: used for emphasis

Related vocabulary: for Christ's sake

See also: loud, out

it's a crying shame (spoken)

it is a great misfortune It's a crying shame when someone has worked hard and then loses everything because of someone else's dishonesty.

See also: shame