# What does ‘crocodile tears’ mean?

To “crocodile tears” means to a false show of sorrow. Brewer's records the medieval belief, reported by Sir John Mandeville and others, that crocodiles would weep while devouring their prey.

## What it means

- Brewer's records the medieval belief, reported by Sir John Mandeville and others, that crocodiles would weep while devouring their prey.

## Action steps

1. Used contemptuously of insincere grief or public regret.
2. Example: The politician's apology was just crocodile tears.

## Sources

- [Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) — Internet Archive scan](https://archive.org/details/brewers-dictionary-of-phrase-and-fable)

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