be a crying shame

be a crying shame

To be problematic and inopportune. It's a crying shame that the car just died—I planned to give it to you some day.
See also: crying, shame
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be a crying ˈshame

(spoken) used to emphasize that you think something is extremely bad or shocking: It’s a crying shame to waste all that food.
See also: crying, shame
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • it's a crying shame
  • a crying shame
  • crying shame
  • crying shame, a
  • shame
  • for crying in a bucket
  • for crying out loud
  • For crying out loud!
  • crying drunk
  • cry for
References in periodicals archive
To lose something that has been an integral part of the culture of the capital for well over a 100 years would be a crying shame.
We can't afford to lose Spillers; VIEWPOINTS
It would be a crying shame if regular folk lost their jobs because of this.
CUSTOMERS FEAR WORST
Wouldn't it be a crying shame if this event had to be cancelled?
Viewpoints: Don't cancel this great fun event
"Your honour, my client recently bought a one-way ticket to Colombia and it would be a crying shame if he was unable to use it because he's serving a life sentence."
Furby's Gospel: LAWLOR TAKES A LIBERTY