until you cry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until you cry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is encouraging or challenging another person to engage in an activity or experience that is so intense or emotional that it may lead to tears. Example: "I will tell you jokes until you cry from laughter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Laugh until you cry.

The Guardian - Books

Some move you to tears and some make you laugh until you cry.

The New York Times

But DeWitt's novel will still make you laugh until you cry.

The New Yorker

They bring a veritable bucket of cheese to the table, pre-grated, and scoop it out until you cry uncle.

The New York Times

Think about it hard enough, and you can laugh until you cry or cry until you laugh.

The New York Times

You'll laugh until you cry! Wonderland has its scary parts, and in Coraline, Neil Gaiman creates a land which is dark, gloomy and downright scary.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The headstone erected on her grave decades after her death bears these words: "She would sing until you cried, and then she would sing until you danced for joy.

The Guardian - Music

When was the last time you belly laughed until you cried?

Huffington Post

Speaking to the Associated Press, Coons' aunt, Suzanne Douglass, described her nephew as a man with a "golden heart" who "made you laugh so hard until you cried".

Huffington Post

Both those words were fairly ubiquitous during their respective years, but does the laughing-until-you-cry emoji really scream "2015"?

Vice

The fashion industry will happily oblige with ever more breathtakingly expensive dresses, bags and boots until finally, you cry uncle.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "until you cry" to describe the endpoint of an experience that evokes strong emotions, such as intense laughter, sadness, or pain. This emphasizes the depth of feeling involved.

Common error

Avoid using "until you cry" casually or in contexts where the emotional intensity doesn't match. Overusing it can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until you cry" functions as an adverbial clause, specifying the duration or endpoint of an action or state. It indicates that something continues to happen up to the point where someone begins to cry. As per Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and appears in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until you cry" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to denote the endpoint of an activity or experience that evokes strong emotions. As Ludwig confirms, it correctly functions as an adverbial clause emphasizing the intensity of the experience. While adaptable across various contexts, ranging from News & Media to Wiki entries, it’s crucial to consider the emotional resonance and avoid overuse to maintain its intended impact. Alternatives like ""to the point of tears"" or "cry your eyes out" may offer similar meanings, but "until you cry" distinctly highlights the progression toward an emotional threshold.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until you can't cry anymore

Highlights the exhaustion of crying to the point of depletion.

to the point of tears

Focuses on reaching the state of crying, but lacks the "until" structure.

laugh yourself to tears

Specifically refers to crying from excessive laughter.

until tears stream down your face

More descriptive and vivid, emphasizing the physical act of crying.

to be reduced to tears

Highlights the state of being brought to tears by an event or situation.

driven to tears

Similar to "reduced to tears", emphasizing external forces causing the crying.

to weep uncontrollably

Focuses on the intensity and lack of control in crying.

to break down in tears

Emphasizes the act of losing emotional control and starting to cry.

endure until you weep

Focuses more on enduring a hardship up to the point of crying.

cry your eyes out

An idiomatic expression for crying intensely for a prolonged period.

FAQs

What does "until you cry" mean?

The phrase "until you cry" signifies reaching an emotional limit or breaking point, often implying an experience that is either profoundly sad or overwhelmingly joyful. It suggests the emotion is so strong it results in tears.

How can I use "until you cry" in a sentence?

You can use "until you cry" to describe the duration or intensity of an action or experience, such as "I'll tell jokes "to the point of tears"" or "I'm going to work "until you can't cry anymore"".

What are some alternatives to "until you cry"?

Alternatives include phrases like ""to the point of tears"", "to be reduced to tears", or "cry your eyes out", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "until you cry" grammatically correct?

Yes, "until you cry" is grammatically correct. It uses "until" as a conjunction introducing a clause that specifies the endpoint of an action or experience. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.