lágrimas de crocodilo

Portuguese

Meaning

crocodile tears

Example

Ela pode chorar à vontade! É tudo lágrimas de crocodilo!

She can cry all she wants! It's all crocodile tears!

Origin

The image is old: stories repeated in medieval animal lore say the crocodile weeps while devouring its prey. From this image, lágrimas de crocodilo came to mean feigned weeping and hypocritical regret.

Create a free account to read the full origin

Source: Diário Online; University of Florida.

Continue this topic in Falando

Create your account to continue with this topic in Falando.

Continue reading Sign in

Free account. A1 lessons included. A2–C2 content requires a subscription.

More idioms

levantar com o pé esquerdoto get up on the wrong side of the bed mandar vergo for it!, give it your all meter o dedo na feridato touch a sore spot, to rub salt in the wound mudar da água para o vinhoto make a complete change, a total 180 nem que a vaca tussano way, not in a million years pagar micoto make a fool of oneself, to embarrass oneself pagar o patoto take the blame, to be the scapegoat