The phrase "cried a river" is a popular idiom used to express intense emotions, particularly sadness. The word "cried" is spelled /kraɪd/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with the "ai" sound indicating the long vowel sound of "i." The word "river" is spelled /ˈrɪvər/, with the primary stress on the first syllable and a short "i" sound in the second syllable. Together, the phrase is pronounced as /kraɪd ə ˈrɪvər/ and is often used to describe someone crying a significant amount of tears.
The idiom "cried a river" refers to a situation in which someone expresses intense or overwhelming emotions by shedding an extensive amount of tears. This phrase is figurative in nature and conveys a significant display of emotional distress or sorrow. When individuals use the expression "cried a river," they imply that the person crying has shed a large volume of tears, symbolizing the depth of their emotional turmoil.
This idiomatic expression draws a parallel between the copiousness of tears and a substantial body of water, namely a river, highlighting the extent of one's emotional outpouring. It suggests that the individual who has "cried a river" has experienced an overwhelming emotional state or undergone a deeply distressing situation. Furthermore, this phrase implies that the person's grief or sorrow is so profound that it may take a substantial amount of time and effort to recover from the emotional pain they are feeling.
The phrase "cried a river" is often used poetically or metaphorically to emphasize the intensity of human emotion, particularly when referring to feelings of sadness, heartbreak, or loss. It captures the idea that tears have symbolically transformed into a flowing river, serving as a tangible representation of the vast scale of suffering or emotional release. Overall, this idiomatic expression illustrates the profound and cathartic nature of crying, as well as the significant impact it can have on an individual's emotional well-being.