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 prey.
The ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch wrote about crocodiles weeping in the first century CE. This same story was referenced in a 14th-century book titled The Travels of Sir John Mandeville. The blog Phrase Finder loosely translated the Middle English story: “In that country — there are many crocodiles — These serpents slay men, and then, weeping, eat them.” The exact term “crocodile tears” came about in 1563, when it was used by Edmund Grindal, the Archbishop of York and of Canterbury, in a similar context to how we use it today, referring to a “counterfeit humility.”
It’s possible the meaning of insincerity developed from the stories of ancient crocodiles because they continued to enjoy their meal even as they wept. As such, the animals couldn’t have been that sad about their crimes.
The indelible connection between crocodiles and tears was further entrenched by Shakespeare. In Act 4, Scene 1 of Othello, the Bard wrote, “If that the Earth could teem with woman’s tears, Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.” The idea of crocodile tears thus became part of the collective English lexicon.
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