pouring tears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pouring tears" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is crying heavily or expressing deep sorrow. Example: "After hearing the tragic news, she was pouring tears, unable to contain her grief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I'm trying to keep my eyes open, trying not to blink, and then I realized that I can make myself cry in anything now, because I was just inadvertently pouring tears out of my face.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

On one celebrated occasion, Hawkesworth Fawkes, the eldest son of his patron Walter Fawkes, expressed his amazement on seeing Turner create from memory a richly detailed watercolour of a man-of-war within a few hours – pouring, tearing, scratching and scrubbing "in a kind of frenzy" until the final, detailed image emerged in time for lunch.

The Guardian - Arts

Her parents' jolly hospitality had been stalled mid-gesture; Carrie saw her mother holding the percolator at a slant but not pouring, surprising tears brimming into her hazel eyes, as if they had been waiting for this moment, close beneath the surface.

The New Yorker

Look at it -- pouring with tears!" Queen Mum: "Oh dear".

Huffington Post

Keep the Private Things Private: Save the pouring of tears for private moments.

WikiHow

I never went the full… it was just like… tears… just tears, pouring out.

Independent

Mr. Travolta was weeping now, tears pouring down both cheeks.

The New York Times

(Bogdan envisioned a soundless screaming match, tears pouring off her round cheeks).

The New Yorker

There were people in the room with tears pouring down their faces.

Independent

Another man in the crowd watched the scene silently, tears pouring down his face.

Independent

There were tears pouring down my face because I was so tired.' But there are those with other views.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pouring tears" to vividly describe a situation where someone is crying intensely, emphasizing the abundance and flow of tears. It adds emotional weight to the description.

Common error

Avoid using "pouring tears" in situations where the emotional intensity is mild or moderate. The phrase suggests a high level of distress, so reserve it for truly significant moments of sorrow or grief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pouring tears" functions as a vivid descriptor, typically used as a verb phrase modifying a subject to illustrate intense sadness or grief. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is used to describe an abundance and flow of tears.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pouring tears" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe someone crying intensely. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and descriptive power. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as wiki and formal business contexts, it vividly illustrates deep sorrow or grief. While effective, it's important to reserve its use for situations where the emotional weight justifies such strong imagery, avoiding overuse in understated scenarios. Alternatives like "shedding tears" or "weeping profusely" can be considered for contexts requiring less intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shedding tears

Focuses on the action of producing tears, removing the intensity implied by "pouring".

weeping profusely

Emphasizes the abundance of tears, replacing the visual imagery of "pouring" with an adverb.

crying uncontrollably

Highlights the lack of control over the crying, shifting the focus from the tears themselves to the emotional state.

streaming with tears

Uses "streaming" to convey the continuous flow of tears, similar to "pouring".

flooding with tears

Implies an overflow of tears, changing the verb but keeping the image of abundance.

bursting into tears

Highlights the sudden onset of crying, rather than the intensity.

dissolved in tears

Suggests being overwhelmed by sadness, presenting a more figurative expression.

awash with tears

Uses "awash" to create a metaphor of being surrounded by tears.

sobbing heavily

Shifts the focus to the act of sobbing, the physical expression of deep sorrow rather than just the presence of tears.

crying buckets

An idiomatic expression signifying a large quantity of tears.

FAQs

How can I use "pouring tears" in a sentence?

You can use "pouring tears" to describe someone crying intensely, such as: "After hearing the news, she sat alone, "pouring tears"."

What are some synonyms for "pouring tears"?

Some alternatives to "pouring tears" include "shedding tears", "weeping profusely", or "crying uncontrollably". Each carries a slightly different nuance.

Is it grammatically correct to say "pouring tears"?

Yes, "pouring tears" is grammatically correct. It functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to emphasize the intensity of crying.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "pouring tears"?

Use "pouring tears" when you want to vividly describe a moment of intense sorrow or grief, where someone is crying heavily and openly. It's best suited for scenarios where the emotional impact is significant.