sob

cry one's heart out and sing one's heart out; play one's heart out; sob one's heart out

Fig. to do something with vigor or intensity. She suffered such grief—alone and sobbing her heart out. The bird sang its little heart out each morning.

See also: cry, heart, out

sob something out

to speak something out while sobbing. Wally sobbed his story out while the police made notes. He sobbed out his sad tale.

See also: out

sob something to someone

to cry and tell one's troubles to someone. He is always sobbing his sad tale to anyone who will listen. Timmy sobbed his story to the teacher.

sob oneself to sleep

to cry until one falls asleep. He sobbed himself to sleep for days after his grandpa died. The child sobbed himself to sleep night after night.

See also: oneself, sleep

sob story

Fig. a sad story that is likely to draw tears. I've heard nothing but sob stories today. Isn't anybody happy? She had quite a sob story, and I listened to the whole thing.

See also: story

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a sob story

a sad story that someone tells you about themselves in order to make you feel sympathy for them She told me some sob story about not having enough money to go and see her father who was ill.

See cry heart out

See also: story

cry/sob your heart out  (informal)

to cry a lot Poor little love, her cat died and she's been crying her heart out all afternoon.

See also: cry, heart, out