Crocodile tears
Meaning
Insincere displays of sorrow or remorse, often used to manipulate or deceive others.
Origin
The phrase "crocodile tears" springs from an ancient, widespread myth that crocodiles weep while devouring their prey. Observers in antiquity, including the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, noted the phenomenon of crocodiles producing moisture from their eyes as they ate, mistaking it for genuine grief over their victims. This biological quirk—actually a lubrication of the eyes caused by jaw movements—was soon woven into medieval bestiaries and popular folklore, establishing the powerful image of a predator feigning sorrow to lure or mourn its food, a cunning display of false emotion that has since become synonymous with insincere lament.
Examples
- After being caught red-handed, the politician shed crocodile tears, hoping to win public sympathy.
- She claimed to be heartbroken by the news, but her crocodile tears fooled no one in the room.