What does “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” mean?
"To cry with one eye and laugh with the other" means to express mixed emotions or to pretend to be sad or upset while secretly feeling happy or amused.
What context can I use the in?
Example
She pretended to be upset about losing the game, but I could see her crying with one eye and laughing with the other. She was actually thrilled that she didn't have to play anymore.
Example
When she found out she got the job, she cried with one eye and laughed with the other. She was sad to leave her current job, but excited for the new opportunity.
Example
He cried with one eye and laughed with the other when his favorite team lost the championship. He was disappointed, but secretly happy that he didn't have to spend more money on tickets
Is “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” effectively in context?
You can use "To cry with one eye and laugh with the other" to describe a situation where someone is expressing mixed emotions or pretending to be sad or upset while secretly feeling happy or amused. For example, if a friend is pretending to be disappointed about not getting a promotion but you know they were actually relieved, you might say, 'I could see him crying with one eye and laughing with the other.'
- 1Celebrations
She pretended to be upset about losing the game, but I could see her crying with one eye and laughing with the other. She was actually thrilled that she didn't have to play anymore.
- 2Job Transitions
When she found out she got the job, she cried with one eye and laughed with the other. She was sad to leave her current job, but excited for the new opportunity.
- 3Sports
He cried with one eye and laughed with the other when his favorite team lost the championship. He was disappointed, but secretly happy that he didn't have to spend more money on tickets.
Similar phrases to “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.”:
Two-faced
To act differently or show different emotions in different situations
Example
He's so two-faced, always pretending to be nice but talking behind people's backs.
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” come from?
The origin of the phrase "To cry with one eye and laugh with the other" is unknown.
Is “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” common in everyday conversation?
The phrase "To cry with one eye and laugh with the other" is not very common in everyday conversation. It is more often used in literature or storytelling to convey a specific emotion or situation.
What tone does “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” have?
"To cry with one eye and laugh with the other" conveys a tone of irony or contradiction. It describes a situation where someone is expressing conflicting emotions or pretending to feel one way while actually feeling another.
Can “To cry with one eye and laugh with the other.” be used in informal and formal settings?
The phrase "To cry with one eye and laugh with the other" is more formal and literary in nature. It is not commonly used in casual or informal conversations.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
The phrase is typically used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'She pretended to be upset, but deep down she was crying with one eye and laughing with the other.' However, in some contexts, it can be understood even if used alone, such as saying 'He was "crying with one eye and laughing with the other"' to imply mixed emotions.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- pretend to be sad and happy at the same time
- hide true emotions
- express conflicting feelings
Antonyms
- genuinely sad or happy
- expressing only one emotion
- being transparent with emotions
