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

When a person regrets something, he does not always do it sincerely. For example, one was given a job and the other "flew". Well, the first expresses sympathy for the second. A third-party observer may say: "Come on, all these are crocodile tears." The meaning of phraseology we will consider today.

In the animal world. Origin

History always comes to our aid, if we want to know the roots of one or another phrase. Our example is not an exception. "Crocodile tears" (the meaning of phraseology follows) refers to a famous animal. When a crocodile is hungry, then he is not his own. And if someone gets to him, then he bites off the victim large pieces. The food presses on the tear glands, and the poor fellow cries, but not at all because he pities his dinner. The usual physiological reaction, the "snack" should not take it personally, and, frankly, it's not up to it.

In the world of people

It's more difficult with people than with animals. People also have a moral dimension of life. And not only do they want to achieve their goals, but they still want to appear better than they really are. When people talk about a person and mention "crocodile tears" (the meaning of phraseology, announced earlier, hastens to the reader with all possible agility), they mean that the object does not really regret that his tears are false, tortured and fake. But let us repeat, in this case, the person is forced to cry not by a special device of the organism, but by melancholy for moral impeccability, which is unattainable in principle.

Admission to the University. Winners and losers

Any social competition, be it work or study, involves victory and defeat. So, there is an occasion to shed a little (or a lot) of completely non-hearted tears. Imagine, some enter the coveted high school, while others are left out. Some people make a new round of evolution, while others remain uncertain for another year. Of course, the "winners" can express their condolences to the "losers", but all this is conventional. The first ones got a place under the sun, but the second ones do not. And regrets last will not help. But they will definitely return next year. It's time to understand why from the psychological point of view it is not worth expressing false sympathy. Analysis of the stable word combination "crocodile tears" (the meaning of phraseology is already known) moves on.

Psychological inexpediency of simulating regret

Imagine that a person cuts a hand or a finger, and another approaches and begins to rub salt into the wound. About the same, there is sympathy, which is not asked for. If a person loses a dream, a job or an opportunity to study in a prestigious university, he least wants to be pitied by the one who took his place.

False condolences on the death of a stranger are also quite suitable for illustrating the expression "pouring crocodile tears." The meaning of phraseology was discussed above. After all, when death takes someone else, then we feel ourselves winners, and the departed - the loser. In addition, the politess demands that we regret, for death is a common fate. And most importantly, condolences are meaningless on their own. They do not even give a sense of support. Each person experiences loss personally, and nobody can help him. On the contrary, insincere words only irritate the wound.

When the "crocodile tears" are sincere

And finally a paradox. At the very beginning, we said that crocodile tears (the meaning of phraseology is brief: insincere words of regret or support) is a mannequin of feelings. But it happens so, when the celebration is fleeting, and immediately after him the loss of all meaning of life follows. But this is a complicated formulation, so let's explain with an example.

Everyone knows that the world of comics, fighters and some thrillers is polar. There are good guys and bad guys. And the task of good is to overcome the bad. Or, for example, in the film "Hannibal" the Lector has an opponent Mason Verger. M. Verger's ingenious and crazy psychiatrist mutilated, and now the victim wants revenge. In the book on which the film was shot, there is such an idea of Mason (we pass freely): "And what to do when the Lector dies?" No, no, it's better not to think about it, now the main thing is revenge! "

Paradox, but here the expression "crocodile tears" is both suitable and not suitable at the same time. Mason will regret the death of Lecter, if it happens, and his torment is completely sincere, no matter how it may seem from the side. Together with the death of the doctor, the meaning of the victim's life disappears.

It's the same with superheroes. Yes, they are beautiful and wonderful, but what will Batman do without the Joker and other villains? Agree that Bruce Wayne will feel boredom without scoundrels and then be able to send all his money to charitable foundations, because improving weapons will become a pointless occupation. And in general, life will become fresh.

So, we looked at the expression "crocodile tears": the meaning of phraseology, its origin and examples. We hope that it was interesting and not too gloomy.