cry like a baby
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Of an adult or older child, to bawl unabashedly and pitifully.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cry like a baby” mean?
Of an adult or older child, to bawl unabashedly and pitifully.
Is “cry like a baby” formal or informal?
cry like a baby is generally informal.