swallow tears

USAGE SUMMARY

'swallow tears' is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe someone trying to cover up their emotions: "He tried to swallow his tears, but they were too intense."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

My father's girlfriend made a toast, and I did, too, and I had to swallow tears only when I noticed some of my mother's friends, whom I hadn't seen in close to 16 years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I found 13 bags of cocaine and a firearm," she said, pausing for a gulp of swallowed tears, "in my home".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Swallowing tears, spokeswoman Sara Jane Trebar said the group was thrilled by the decision, which vindicated its two-year campaign funded by hundreds of small donations from gardeners and allotment groups around the country.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last month, swallowing tears, he announced his pending resignation.

Forbes

His condition had been "touch and go" for a couple of weeks, he explained, pausing several times to swallow back tears.

The Guardian

And I will swallow back tears of pride and think, "Well, now.

Huffington Post

While she could tell he was upset about something, the little boy "did everything in his power not to cry," Johansson said, adding, "It looked so painful the way he was making such an effort to literally swallow his tears".

Huffington Post

I swallowed my tears".

The Guardian

At these moments, our conversation falls into deep breaths and pauses, as she swallows down tears.

The Guardian

I walked up to the bar, basically swallowing my tears, and placed my order.

Huffington Post

I swallowed my tears so that I could stay strong and support these guys, because they were all really emotional too.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "swallow tears" to vividly describe the act of someone trying to hide their sadness or emotional distress. It is particularly effective when showcasing internal conflict or resilience.

Common error

Avoid using "swallow tears" in situations that are already highly melodramatic. Subtle emotional cues are often more impactful than explicitly stating the character is fighting back tears.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "swallow tears" is that of a verb phrase, acting as the predicate in a sentence. It describes an action, specifically the act of suppressing or holding back tears. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is commonly used in descriptive writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "swallow tears" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that effectively portrays the act of suppressing emotions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is particularly common in news and media contexts. To use it effectively, focus on portraying internal conflict without excessive melodrama. Consider alternative phrases like "hold back tears" or "fight back tears" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold back tears

Focuses on the act of preventing tears from flowing.

fight back tears

Emphasizes the struggle against crying.

suppress tears

Highlights the act of consciously stopping tears.

choke back tears

Describes the physical sensation of trying not to cry.

contain tears

Suggests keeping tears under control.

stifle tears

Implies muffling or smothering the urge to cry.

hold in tears

Emphasizes keeping the emotion internal.

keep tears at bay

Focuses on preventing tears from starting.

mask sadness

Highlights concealing the underlying emotion causing the tears.

hide emotions

Broadly refers to concealing feelings.

FAQs

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

You can use "swallow tears" to describe someone trying to suppress their emotions, for example: "She had to "swallow tears" when she heard the news."

What does it mean to "swallow tears"?

"Swallow tears" means to try and stop yourself from crying, often by forcing the tears down or hiding your emotions.

What can I say instead of "swallow tears"?

You can use alternatives like "hold back tears", "fight back tears", or "choke back tears" depending on the context.

Is "swallow tears" a common expression?

Yes, "swallow tears" is a common expression used to describe the act of suppressing one's emotions to avoid crying.