crocodile tears

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The term Crocodile tears refers to a false or insincere display of emotion. The expression comes from an ancient anecdote that crocodiles weep in order to lure their prey, or that they cry for the victims they are eating. They are fake tears.

An alternate explanation for the expression's origin is that crocodile tears cannot be authentic because crocodiles cannot cry; they lack tear ducts. Yet this is a myth: Crocodiles possess lacrimal glands which secrete a proteinaceous fluid, just like in humans, though tears will only be visible after a crocodile is out of the water for a prolonged period of time, and the eyes begin to dry out. However, while crocodiles can and do generate tears, they do not actually cry.^[1]

One prominent use of the expression is by Shakespeare in Othello Act IV, Scene i

Again, Shakespeare, in an earlier play, Henry VI, part 2, Act III, Scene i

The Crocodile tears syndrome is an uncommon consequence of recovery from Bell's palsy where faulty regeneration of the facial nerve causes sufferers to shed tears while eating.

In popular culture

The "crocodile tears" expression appears in a line in the song Substitute (The Who song) by famous rock band The Who.

In the 2004 romantic comedy, Along Came Polly, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a former child star who appeared in the fictional film Crocodile Tears.

In one of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, The Elephant's Child, the Crocodile generously reveals himself by weeping crocodile tears.

The Pokémon Bonsly is known for using "Fake Tears" as an attack to deceive its opponent.

The band Parkway Drive references the use of crocodile tears in the song Romance is Dead, track four from the album Killing with a Smile.

Hardcore punk band Septic Death released an EP titled Crocodile Tears.

A group art installation of over 50 artists -- including Matt Leines, Misaki Kawai, & William Schaff -- shown at the Giant Robot gallery in New York in July 2008 was titled "Crocodile Tears".

In the first episode of The Smurfs on television ("The Smurfette") Smurfette is created by Gargamel using blue clay as the base and includes crocodile tears as one of her ingredients.

The eighth book in Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series is to be entitled Crocodile Tears.

An Australian country/folk/rock band The Pigram Brothers have a song titled "Liar Cry" which is a local expression, where the band is based in Broome WA, that means Crocodile Tears.

In the Elvis Costello song "Beyond Belief," one of the lyrics is: "keep your finger on important issues with crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues."

One of the lines in the song "Risingson" by Massive Attack is, "your cheap beers filled with crocodile tears."

Jude Law starred in the 1998 movie, "The Wisdom of Crocodiles," the title of which is a reference to crocodile tears or false emotions.

In the 1984 movie, Romancing the Stone, the character played by Manuel Ojeda named Zolo makes reference to crocodile tears in a scene near a pit filled with crocodiles.

Crocodile Tears

• Tweenies
• Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids

References

1. ^ Britton, Adam (n.d.). Do crocodiles cry 'crocodile tears'? Crocodilian Biology Database. Retrieved March 13, 2006 from the Crocodile Specialist Group, Crocodile Species List, FAQ.

2. SHANER D. Malcolm, VLIET Kent A. (2007) Crocodile Tears: And thei eten hem wepynge. BioScience: Vol. 57, No. 7 pp. 615–617

External links

• "No Faking It, Crocodile Tears Are Real". Science Daily. 2007-10-07. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071003151131.htm. Retrieved on 2008-08-14. 
• Straight Dope article on crocodile tears