crying towel

crying towel

1. A figurative towel used to wipe away someone's tears; used sarcastically to imply that the person's woes or complaints are uncalled for or exaggerated. Oh, you have to pay a bit more in taxes because you're now making $100,000 more per year? Shall I get out a crying towel for you? Your fancy new phone broke? Oh no, let me get you a crying towel. A: "I can't believe the Wi-Fi is down. What am I supposed to do if I can't stream my movie?" B: "Here's a crying towel—does that help?"

2. A person who listens to or offers sympathy for someone's troubles, complaints, or grief. I'm getting a little tired of being Charlie's crying towel every time he breaks up with some new boyfriend. Would please be your brother's crying towel? He's very disappointed about not getting into the same high school as you. I really think Marianne should talking about deep stuff like this in therapy, but, because she isn't, I'm stuck being her crying towel.

See also: crying, towel

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

crying towel

A figurative towel for wiping the tears of a self-pitying individual. For example, So you didn't make the first team? Get out the crying towel. This expression is always used sarcastically. [Slang; 1920s]

See also: crying, towel

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.

crying towel

n. someone or something used to comfort someone. It’s so sad. I guess I really need a crying towel today.

See also: crying, towel

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.