The phrase "Cry me a river" is a popular English idiom that expresses a sense of sarcasm or emotional indifference. When someone says “Cry me a river,” they are usually responding to another person’s complaints, tears, or expressions of sadness—but not with sympathy. Instead, the phrase suggests that the speaker thinks the other person is overreacting or being overly dramatic.

Origin and Background

The phrase became widely known after the release of the 1953 song "Cry Me a River," written by Arthur Hamilton and famously sung by Julie London. In the song, the singer tells a former lover that it's too late for apologies and expresses emotional detachment by saying, “Now you say you're lonely / You cried the long night through / Well, you can cry me a river.” In this context, it means: “You can cry as much as you want, but I don’t care anymore.”

Modern Usage

In modern everyday conversation, "Cry me a river" is often used in a sarcastic tone. For example:

• A: “I had to wake up at 6 a.m. today!”

• B: “Oh, cry me a river. I’ve been up since 5 all week!”

In this example, Speaker B is implying that A's complaint is minor compared to their own experience and not worthy of sympathy.