crying shame, a

a crying shame

Something that is problematic and inopportune. It's a crying shame that the car just died—I planned to give it to you some day. That poor kid was finally having a breakout year—it's a crying shame he got injured. A: "I really think this gap in my resume from caring for my mom is the only thing keeping me from getting hired." B: "Well, that's a crying shame."

See also: crying, shame

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

crying shame, a

An unfortunate situation, as in It's a crying shame that Bob can't find a job. This term may well come from the now obsolete to cry shame upon, meaning "express vigorous disapproval or censure," current from about 1600 to the mid-1800s.

See also: crying

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.