Back دموع التماسيح Arabic Timsahın göz yaşları Azerbaijani Krokodilstränen German Krokodilaj larmoj Esperanto Krokodillipisarad Estonian اشک تمساح Persian Krokotiilin kyyneleet Finnish Larmes de crocodile French Bágoas de crocodilo Galician דמעות תנין HE
Crocodile tears, or superficial sympathy, is a colloquial term used to describe a false, insincere display of emotion, such as a hypocrite crying fake tears of grief. The phrase derives from an ancient belief that crocodiles shed tears while consuming their prey and, as such, is present in many modern languages, especially in Europe, where it was introduced through Latin. While crocodiles do have tear ducts, they weep to lubricate their eyes, typically when they have been out of water for a long time and their eyes begin to dry out. However, evidence suggests this could also be triggered by feeding.
Bogorad's syndrome, a condition which causes sufferers to shed tears while consuming food, has been labelled "crocodile tears syndrome" in reference to the legend.