cry someone a river

verb cries someone a river · crying someone a river · cried someone a river

1. idiomatic, often, sarcastic To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person. It is rather shaming to be quite so wet over nothing in particular, but at least Fielding does it too. He cries gallons over slow-motion bits at the ends of films, especially Gladiator, and begins to worship Roman values, then Italian footballers kissing in slo-mo to the strains of Nessun Dorma. Sni
2. broadly, idiomatic, sarcastic, usually To try to obtain the sympathy of another person by complaining or sniveling. Port Authority Transit should cry me a river. Before raising fares it should cut an unnecessary expense.