Cry the blues

Definitions

• Expressing sadness or sorrow
  Used to convey deep sorrow or distress, often in a dramatic or exaggerated way

• Complaining or lamenting
  Used to describe someone who is constantly complaining or feeling sorry for themselves, often in a dramatic or self-pitying manner

Examples of Cry the blues

• After losing her job and going through a messy divorce, Sarah found herself crying the blues every night.

  The idiom "cry the blues" means to cry and express deep feelings of sadness or sorrow. In this example, Sarah is going through a difficult time in her life and is expressing her emotions through tears.

• Despite the team's loss, the players refused to cry the blues and instead focused on improving their skills for the next game.

  In this example, the team lost a game, but instead of dwelling on their defeat and crying about it, they chose to remain positive and work on improving their skills for the future.

• The singer's soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics had the audience crying the blues as she sang about the pain of heartbreak and loss.

  Here, the singer's music is so powerful and emotional that it causes the audience to cry and express their own feelings of sadness and sorrow.

• The politician's campaign was plagued by scandal, and he found himself crying the blues as his once-promising career fell apart.

  In this example, the politician's career is in shambles due to scandal, and he is expressing his sadness and disappointment through tears.

• The rain poured down on the city, and the streets became a sea of puddles as people cried the blues and rushed for cover.

  Here, the rain is so heavy that it is causing people to cry and express their frustration and inconvenience at being caught in the downpour.

Conclusion

The idiom "cry the blues" is typically used to express feelings of sadness or sorrow, often in a dramatic or exaggerated way. It can also describe someone who is constantly complaining or feeling sorry for themselves. Overall, the idiom conveys a sense of deep emotion and a need to express it.

Origin of "Cry the blues"

The phrase "cry the blues" has its origins in African American culture, specifically in the blues music genre. The blues originated in the southern United States in the late 19th century and was a form of music that expressed the struggles and hardships faced by African Americans. The term "blues" was used to describe the melancholic and sorrowful nature of the music.

The expression "cry the blues" likely stems from the emotional and often sorrowful lyrics found in blues music. It was used to describe the act of expressing or releasing one's feelings through music. Over time, the phrase evolved to be used in everyday language to convey a similar meaning of expressing deep emotions.