shed crocodile tears

shed crocodile tears

To display false, insincere, or hypocritical sadness or remorse. Derived from an ancient notion that a crocodile will weep to lure in its victims, or that it weeps as it eats them. Jessica shed crocodile tears over the expulsion of her rival, Jacob.
See also: crocodile, shed, tear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

shed crocodile tears

 and cry crocodile tears
Fig. to shed false tears; to pretend that one is weeping. The child wasn't really hurt, but she shed crocodile tears anyway. He thought he could get his way if he cried crocodile tears.
See also: crocodile, shed, tear
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

shed crocodile tears

If someone sheds crocodile tears, they pretend to sympathize with or feel sadness about someone or something that they do not really care about. Our own government sheds crocodile tears over the loss of life whilst doing absolutely nothing to stop it. Note: Verbs such as weep and cry are sometimes used instead of shed. MPs who weep crocodile tears over the plight of those who earn £10,000 a year insist that they cannot manage on ten times that amount. While her family and friends weep, the politicians cry crocodile tears. Note: The phrase crocodile tears is used in other expressions with this meaning. She regards Washington's expressions of concern now as no more than crocodile tears. Note: There was an ancient belief that crocodiles sighed and groaned to attract their prey, and wept while they were eating it.
See also: crocodile, shed, tear
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • crocodile tears, crying/to cry
  • cry crocodile tears
  • crocodile tears
  • ring false
  • ring true
  • ring true/false/hollow
  • ring hollow
  • lip service, to give/pay
  • pay lip service
  • cries
References in periodicals archive
However, they shed crocodile tears for those living under the Indian control-- hypocrisy worth exposing.
'Pak shedding crocodile tears over J-K is worth exposing'
'I have told them, and I'm also using this opportunity to inform them, that nobody should come and shed crocodile tears at my burial.
Charles Olumo To Colleagues: Don't Shed Crocodile Tears At My Burial
The people in power have always shed crocodile tears over drought and hunger in Turkana, Baringo, and other counties.
Our peak season of prolonged stupidity
Why should we wait to our legends to waste away, unleash tributes and shed crocodile tears, graveside, upon their deaths?This year alone, we have lost three legends, with pioneer track stars Naftali Bon and Nyandika Maiyoro having passed on after painfully pleading for assistance to make ends meet and to settle paltry hospital bills.
Why some leaders have no business mourning Kadenge
He said that how long will you shed crocodile tears and added people of Karachi had identified you.
Info advisor flays KMC for mismanaging financial matters
They added such incidents are a result of human errors, the responsibility of which could only be placed on the shoulders of the district administration that only seems to have shed crocodile tears notwithstanding.
Uncovered manholes waiting to swallow locals in Sialkot
You divide the society in every manner possible for electoral gains & then shed crocodile tears."
India lynching victim in Alwar died of shock and internal bleeding: postmortem
So I don't know if they shed crocodile tears in front of us,' Manyin told reporters after his winding-up speech in the Sarawak State Assembly.
Rural state schools in dire condition, Sarawak minister says
He took a dig at the role of the puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, as a stooge of the BJP regime and reminded her past days when she used to shed crocodile tears on the funeral processions of the martyred youth, today, as a mere spectator of the brutal incidents of killing the civilians, chopping off the fruit orchards, demolishing the residencies and looting the valuables by the men in uniform.
APHC concerned over detainees' plight, HR abuses by troops
We say enough, over 100 Palestinians have not died in the last 6 weeks just so the Canadian government can shed crocodile tears while still defending Israel.
Canada's Shameful Hypocrisy on Display!
He said the PPP now shed crocodile tears over political recruitment in Karachi police, KMC and KWSB but it is pretending that the people do not know that these illegal recruitments were covertly approved by the PPP during their coalition government.
Ruling parties already betrayed Karachi: Pasban
Those who shed crocodile tears over the Syrian civilians have never said a word about the crimes perpetrated by the US-led international coalition in Raqqa and complete destruction of the city, Mikdad added, wondering if the US and its allies have ever delivered a piece of bread to the city, treated the injured people or dismantled mines.
Damascus: Syria Calls for International Inquiry Into US-Led Coalition Massacres in Raqqa
"The western countries shed crocodile tears on their tools of terrorists in Eastern Ghouta, but not on our people," Sousan said.
Sousan: UN latest report on Syria biased and politicized
"Poonawala vented his 'Shahzaada frustration'in what was clearly an 'internal matter'of their party."But maybe due to wrong briefing, or due to anger and confusion, some of our own people and leaders have jumped in to shed crocodile tears for him on RaGa's (Rahul Gandhi) elevation,"Sinha said in a series of tweets.
Shatrughan flays Modi, Shah for sidelining Advani, Joshi