"Crocodile tears": the meaning of the idiom, history and examples

When a person regrets something, it does not always do it sincerely. For example, one was given work, and the other "flying". Well, first expressed sympathy for the second. An observer might say: “Yes, well, this is all crocodile tears”. The meaning of the idiom we will consider today.

In the animal world. Origin

The Story always comes to our aid, if we want to know the roots of a particular phrase. Our example is no exception. "Crocodile tears" (meaning of the idiom follows) refers to the famous animal. When a crocodile is hungry, then he's not himself. And if he hits, he bites off the victim's large pieces. Food puts pressure on the lacrimal gland, and the poor guy was crying, but not because he was sorry for his lunch. Normal physiological response, “snack” should not take it personally, and, frankly, she's not.

People In the world

People are harder than animals. People have a moral dimension of life. And not only that they want to achieve their goals but they still want to appear better than they really are. When talking about the person and mention ‘crocodile tears" (meaning of the idiom, which was announced earlier, hurry to the reader with the greatest possible agility), we mean that the object actually has no regrets that his tears are fake, forced and fake. But again, in the case of a man makes you cry is not a special device body, and the longing for moral perfection, which is unattainable in principle.

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Admission to the University. Winners and losers

Any social competition, whether it is work or study, involves winning and losing. So, there is reason to spill a little (or a lot) absolutely residecny tears. Imagine one coming in the coveted University, and others remain excluded. One life makes a new round of evolution, while others remain uncertain for another year. Of course, the “winners” to Express their condolences to the “losers”, but it's a Convention. First-it was a place under the sun, and second to none. And regret the last will not help. But they will be back next year. It's time to analyze why, from a psychological point of view it is not necessary to Express fake sympathy. The analysis of idioms "crocodile tears" (meaning of the idiom already known) moved on.

Psychological irrationality simulation regrets

Imagine that a person cuts a hand or finger, and the other comes and starts to RUB his wound with salt. Roughly the same effect of sympathy, which is not ask. If a man loses his dream job or the opportunity to study in a prestigious University, he want to be pitied whoever took his place.

Fake condolences on the death of a stranger also quite suitable to illustrate the expression “to shed crocodile tears”. The meaning of the idiom has been considered above. After all, when death takes someone else, we feel like winners and past - losers. In addition, politeness requires that we wished for death - a common fate. And most importantly, condolences are meaningless by themselves. They don't even give a sense of support. Every person is experiencing the loss personally, myself, and no one to help him. On the contrary, insincere words only astraunaut the wound.

When the ‘crocodile tears" sincere

And finally, the paradox. In the beginning, we said that crocodile tears (meaning of the idiom briefly: insincere words of sympathy or support) – dummy feelings. But sometimes, when the celebration is fleeting, followed immediately followed by the loss of any sense of life. But it's a complicated wording, so let me explain with an example.

We All know that the world of comic books, action thrillers and some polar. There are good guys and bad. And the challenge is good – to overcome the bad. Or, for example, in the movie “Hannibal” the Lecturer is the enemy of Mason Verger. M. Verger brilliant and crazy psychiatrist disfigured, and now the victim wants revenge. In the book on which the film, there is a thought of Mason (share freely): “what to do when the Lecturer dies? No, it is better not to think, now the main thing - revenge!”

A Paradox, but here the expression "crocodile tears" and suitable, and not suitable at the same time. Mason will regret the death of Lecter, if it happens, and torment him absolutely sincere, as much as it may seem from the outside. With the death of the doctor is lost and the meaning of life victims.

The same thing with superheroes. Yes, they are lovely and wonderful, but what will Batman do without the Joker and other villains? Agree that Bruce Wayne will feel boring without villains and will be able in this case to send all your money to charities, because the improvement of weapons will become pointless. Anyway, life will become insipid.

So, we examined the expression "crocodile tears": meaning of the idiom, its origin, and examples. Hope this was interesting and not too dark.