: a false expression of sadness or regret about something
The company shed/cried crocodile tears for the workers who were laid off.
Note: The phrase crocodile tears comes from the belief that crocodiles make false sounds of distress to attract the animals that they kill and eat.
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“Crocodile tears.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/crocodile%20tears. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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