Idioms

turn on the waterworks

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turn on the waterworks

To start crying profusely, either genuinely or in order to get attention. My little sister turns on the waterworks the moment she doesn't get what she wants. I could tell the kid was about to turn on the waterworks, so I bought him an ice cream.
See also: on, turn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

turn on the waterworks

Fig. to begin to cry. Every time Billy got homesick, he turned on the waterworks. Sally hurt her knee and turned on the waterworks for about twenty minutes.
See also: on, turn
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

turn on the waterworks

Start to weep, as in Whenever Dad refuses a request of hers she turns on the waterworks. This term implies that one begins to weep deliberately, as though switching on a system of pipes connected to reservoirs.
See also: on, turn
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.

turn on the ˈwaterworks

(informal, disapproving) start crying, especially in order to get sympathy or attention: You can turn off the waterworks for a start, as that won’t make me change my mind.
See also: on, turn
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

turn on the waterworks

in. to begin to cry. His lower lip was quivering, and I knew he was going to turn on the waterworks.
See also: on, turn
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in periodicals archive
Not only do needs for waterworks, as perceived by the general public, fail to consider the interests of future generations, but in fact the current generation is unwittingly choosing uncooperative behavior, which also means loss of profit for the waterworks sector at present.
The Bureau of Waterworks has a training and development center where you can learn about the high technology of water supply that Tokyo has.
According to NCC, construction of Kungalv's waterworks is a two-phase project.
The waterworks buildings were the key to unlocking the industrial strength that was growing within Birmingham at the turn of the century, when it gained its famous 'workshop of the world' title.
By the time the 1960s swung around, the city was using 120 million litres a day, with the waterworks playing a vital role in the distribution channel.
This week, however, Newport News Waterworks suggested a rate reduction to the Newport News City Council.
RAMSCO is a privately owned full-line waterworks distributor specializing in quality water, sanitary and storm sewer solutions throughout New York State.
Although nearby homes were not evacuated, Waterworks Street and Davies Street were both closed from 9.20pm to around 1am.
Restoration Hardware stainless-steel cabinet, $495, 800-910-9836, restorationhardware.com; Waterworks nickel-plated brass legs stool with water- and stain-resistant fabric cushion, $726,800-899-6757, waterworks.com; Lab Chemical glass vases, $32-$36, and metal scale, $50, Conran, New York, conranusa.com; Calvin Klein Home limestone tray, $175, limestone beaker, $75, and limestone soap dish, $75, Calvin Klein Home, New York, 212-292-9000.
In recent months illegal activities have been adjudicated against industrial laundries big and small, and the launderers' trade association is now asking EPA's Office of Water to make it a requirement for local waterworks to use a means of measuring laundry pollutants that is preferred by industry even though waterworks are already free to use such measurements if they choose.
I WONDER how many of your readers can remember the tall chimney of Aughton Waterworks. Or the team of shire horses, which was so familiar on the road to Bickerstaffe Colliery, as they carted coal to fire the engines which pumped the water around the villages of West Lancs.
The Presidential determination on imports of certain ductile iron waterworks fittings (DIWFs) from the Republic of China is a "Defining Decision." (In March, despite a 6-0 vote by the International Trade Commission [ITC], the Bush Administration voted against a Section 421 proposal that would impose import tariffs on DIWFs from China.
THE Waterworks Jazz Club in Birmingham has been going through a difficult phase, with problems concerning its current regular venue, the United Services Club in Gough Street, disrupting its plans.
Showing recently introduced Prodigy Plus, a low-cost, office prototyping system with new features such as WaterWorks automated support removal by dissolving in water, plus the Insight preprocessing software developed for the firm's higher-end systems.
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