was close to crying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was close to crying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone is on the verge of tears due to strong emotions, such as sadness or frustration. Example: "After hearing the news, she was close to crying, overwhelmed by the weight of the moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He remembers his eyes brimming as he turned to his fiancee, Michelle Cound, and said: "Fuck – what have I done wrong?" Froome nods when asked again if he really was close to crying.

The Guardian - Sport

I was close to crying when I went home and I was like, "Mom I can't believe this happened".

Huffington Post

I was close to crying when I went home and I was like, "Mom I can't believe this happened". It blows my mind.

HuffPost

I screamed like hell and was close to crying". When the "monster" screamed back, Romero realized she was looking at herself in hair curlers, her tired eyes reddened by an overnight flight from Washington.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

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

The New Yorker

In our data three or more hours of crying was close to the 80th percentile.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

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

It was pretty damn close to crying.

The Washington Post

The famous 2013 parliamentary hearing was by no means the only time she has cried, or been close to tears, on camera.

The Guardian

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

Independent

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

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was close to crying" to convey a strong emotional response without stating that the person actually cried. This allows for a nuanced portrayal of feelings.

Common error

Avoid using "was close to crying" excessively, especially in contexts that don't warrant such a strong emotional response. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make the writing seem melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was close to crying" functions as a descriptive expression, typically serving as a predicate adjective to describe a subject's emotional state. It indicates that the subject nearly cried, but did not fully express their sadness through tears. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was close to crying" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a state of near-tears due to strong emotions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Predominantly found in news and media, it effectively conveys vulnerability and emotional intensity without explicitly stating that the person cried. Alternatives include "was on the verge of tears" and "almost cried". While useful for depicting emotional depth, avoid overuse in melodramatic contexts to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was on the verge of tears

Emphasizes the imminence of crying, focusing on the physical sensation.

was about to cry

Highlights the anticipation of crying, suggesting it was imminent.

almost cried

Focuses on the near occurrence of crying, indicating a strong emotional experience.

nearly wept

Uses a more formal term, 'wept', to describe the act of crying, suggesting a deeper emotional impact.

fought back tears

Highlights the effort to suppress the urge to cry, suggesting internal conflict.

had tears welling up

Describes the physical manifestation of impending tears, focusing on the eyes.

felt a lump in throat

Focuses on a physical sensation often associated with sadness and the urge to cry.

was moved to tears

Highlights the emotional impact that led to the near-crying state.

was deeply touched

Emphasizes the emotional impact or gratitude someone felt

became emotional

Describes a broader emotional state, which may or may not involve crying.

FAQs

How can I use "was close to crying" in a sentence?

You can use "was close to crying" to describe a situation where someone almost cried due to a strong emotion. For example, "She "was close to crying" when she heard the news".

What are some alternatives to "was close to crying"?

Alternatives include "was on the verge of tears", "was about to cry", or "almost cried", each conveying a similar sense of near-tears.

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

Yes, "was close to crying" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" followed by "close to" and the gerund form of "cry".

What's the difference between "was close to crying" and "cried"?

"Was close to crying" means the person almost cried but didn't actually shed tears, while "cried" indicates that the person did shed tears. The former suggests a suppressed or impending emotional release.