cry the blues
1. Literally, to sing blues music or in that style. There was this old man crying the blues at the bar last night; it was a really moving bit of music. Who wants to listen to some guy cry the blues in a subway station? I'm headed to work, so I'm already depressed anyway! My friend Patrice has a very soulful voice. She'd do a great job crying the blues with your band.
2. By extension, to complain, whine, or express grief, especially as a means of gaining sympathy from others. Many people will cry the blues over trivial inconveniences, while millions of others silently suffer real hardships every day. Of course Hannah's crying the blues because she fell down and ripped her stockings—she's a toddler. She'll be fine. I'm not really concerned about Aunt Janie because she's always crying the blues about one thing or another.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.