What Is the Origin of “Crocodile Tears”?
Why have crocodiles — and specifically their tears — received the reputation of insincerity? With so many animals to pick from, why not dogs, worms, or parrots? Let’s dig into the history of “crocodile tears” and why people chose crocodiles in particular for this idiom about a superficial display of
performative emotion. Crocodiles do indeed have a biological mechanism that lubricates the eyes when they’ve been out of water too long, but that moisture has nothing to do with shedding tears of sadness. Instead, this idiom can be traced back to the ancient notion that crocodiles cry while devouring their...
