close to crying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to crying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is on the verge of tears, often due to strong emotions such as sadness or frustration. Example: "After hearing the heartbreaking news, she was close to crying in front of her friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"I'm probably very close to crying, having a really awful night".

Independent

I smile at her, but I realize she is close to crying.

The New Yorker

I've never come close to crying, but yesterday I was just totally emotional.

The New York Times - Sports

And Michael came close to crying himself, the wave crashing just short of his eyes.

The New Yorker

"I have to settle down and let the ball come to me," said Moore, who came close to crying at his locker.

The New York Times - Sports

Franco said he came close to crying this morning at his hotel room while watching the memorial service at ground zero.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

With the greatest respect, however, might I humbly suggest that it may have been close to a crying shame that Dyer himself trotted out "thoroughly brilliant," "brilliantly thorough," "thoroughly exhausted" and "thoroughly used up" all on the, er, same page.

The New York Times - Books

My best guess is that old Wall Street blind spot is kicking in again: the Wall Street gang President Clinton is still close to are crying in his ear about how unfair it is that anyone would beat up on their way of doing business, and Clinton is trying to steer the 2012 political conversation away from a subject that causes this much discomfort to his good friends.

Huffington Post

If you don't make time to be alone or with a close friend, to cry, and to reflect on everything that happened, it'll actually keep you from getting closure and forgetting your ex.

WikiHow

The closest I came to crying that day was when I gave my mother a bottle of quince-scented lotion, before the wake.

Huffington Post

And the closest I came to crying was a jump in my throat, a welling of my eyes, a brief trembling of some muscles in my face, or the wavering of my voice.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to crying" to convey a sense of vulnerability or suppressed emotion. It's effective in describing a character's internal state or the atmosphere of a scene.

Common error

While "close to crying" is a valid expression, overuse can dilute its impact. Consider varying your descriptions of emotional distress with synonyms like "on the verge of tears" or more evocative imagery.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to crying" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a subject, indicating a state of being near the point of tears. Ludwig shows many examples where it describes someone's emotional condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6.66%

Academia

6.66%

Encyclopedias

6.66%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close to crying" effectively conveys a state of near tears due to strong emotions. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, primarily in News & Media and Wiki contexts. When writing, be mindful not to overuse it and consider alternatives like "on the verge of tears" to vary your descriptions. This phrase, while versatile, is best used to signal vulnerability or suppressed emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability across various communicative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about to cry

Highlights the immediate anticipation of crying.

almost crying

Directly states the nearness to the act of crying.

near tears

A more concise way to express the feeling of being close to crying.

on the verge of tears

Emphasizes the imminence of tears but focuses on the edge or boundary.

on the brink of tears

Similar to "on the verge", but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the precariousness of the emotional state.

tearing up

Focuses on the physical manifestation of emotion (eyes filling with tears).

fighting back tears

Focuses on the active effort to suppress the urge to cry.

eyes welling up

Describes the physiological process of tears forming in the eyes.

ready to weep

Uses a more formal term ("weep") to indicate the readiness to cry.

one tear away

A more figurative way to describe being very close to crying.

FAQs

What does "close to crying" mean?

The phrase "close to crying" describes a state where someone is almost about to cry, usually because of strong emotions such as sadness, frustration, or overwhelming joy.

What can I say instead of "close to crying"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of tears", "near tears", or "about to cry" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "close to crying"?

Yes, "close to crying" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English phrasing and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

How to use "close to crying" in a sentence?

Example: "After hearing the heartbreaking news, she was "close to crying" in front of her friends." You can also use: "He looked "on the verge of tears" after losing the game.