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.

crying shame

Fig. a very unfortunate situation; a real shame. It's a crying shame that people cannot afford adequate housing. That your father could not attend graduation was a crying shame.

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.

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References in periodicals archive ?

A Crying Shame NATURE has blessed mankind with the ability to cry Most comprehend as others cannot understand why Tears can be a sign of stress or pain Or perhaps some unspeakable shame Our emotions at times we struggle to control Friends' and family we may need to console Love or hate we should perhaps ration As both can stir us to great passion High emotions or an all consuming hate Are feelings we should try and regulate?

POEM OF THE DAY

Dugher said: "It is a crying shame that in this day and age that Tala may be denied the chance to reach her potential and fulfil her dreams because her Barnsley family are not super-rich."

Dancer's dream is no fairytale

In response to 'A crying shame' (GDN, June 26), either this person has never seen babies or infants cry - or is unaware of the fact that babies cry during takeoff and landing because of the pressure difference.

Shame on you!

"It's a crying shame - I love the club to bits," said Smith.

Politics force Pilks managers to quit

VAUXHALL MOTORS chairman Alan Bartlam has described the club's attendances as "a crying shame."

Motor Racing: Motors plea to fans

"It would be a crying shame if Sven decided to go," declared the most experienced manager in the English game.

Football: Robson's choice

When so much is happening on the publishing scene in both languages it's a crying shame that the capital of Wales cannot supply one shop specialising in books about and from Wales.

Letter: Crying shame

Marketing and planning manager Lokesh Patel said: "Coventry is a big city and it would be a crying shame for the city not to have a ship named after it.

Sign our petition when you shop; CO-OP STORES WIDEN THE CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT WARWICKSHIRE

It would be a crying shame if these benefits of Conrad Black's moment of fame and influence were to disappear.

Black out

Leonard, 32, said: "The Lions are part of history and it would be a crying shame if anything was allowed to affect them.

RUGBY: Leonard: Players won't let bosses kill off the Lions; UPDATE

I WAS so upset when I read the letter 'A crying shame', (GDN, June 26).

Plane wrong

Doug Rowlinson, 60, West End: I really liked the atmosphere of Balmbras and it would be a crying shame if its name were to change

Your Say: What do you think of plans to change the name of Balmbras, the famous pub immortalised in The Blaydon Races?