Cry one's heart out - 英语词汇详解

Meaning 1：weep bitterly (Cry one's heart out)

Cry one's heart out 🔊

/kraɪ wʌnz hɑːrt aʊt/

verb phrase

to cry very hard and for a long time because you are extremely sad.

weep bitterly 🔊

➕

/wiːp ˈbɪtərli/

verb phrase

To cry very hard and for a long time due to extreme sadness or overwhelming emotion.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

This phrase combines 'cry' (to shed tears) with 'heart out' (to the fullest extent), forming an intensified idiom.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine your heart as a tear-filled container. Crying empties it completely.

📖 Example

After seeing the lost puppy find a new home in the advertisement, she cried her heart out tears of joy. 🔊 After seeing the lost puppy find a new home in the advertisement, she cried her heart out tears of joy.

🔗 Collocations

cry one's heart out over – to cry intensely because of something

cry one's heart out at – to cry very hard at a specific event

cry one's heart out for – to cry for a long time due to someone

🔄 Synonyms

sob one's heart out (verb phrase) – To cry noisily with deep emotion.

wail (verb) – To make a long, loud cry of grief.

🚫 Antonyms

laugh heartily (verb phrase) – To laugh in a wholehearted way.

stay composed (verb phrase) – To remain calm and in control of emotions.

📖 Cultural Story

This idiom likely originated from the idea of expressing deep emotion so intensely that one's heart feels emptied. It's now widely used in English to describe unrestrained weeping.