Question of the Day #510

"Berlin leaders should spare us crocodile tears when [a] spate of anti-Jewish attacks continue."
From the 9th paragraph of this article at The Jerusalem Post.

上記の文で、crocodile tearsの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "crocodile tears" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

うそ（の）涙、見せ掛けの涙、空涙、うそ泣き

alligator tearsと言うこともあります。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

false or affected tears

Etymology/語源

英辞郎によると、

ワニは人間をおびきよせるためにうその涙を流すと言い伝えられている

とありますが、下記The Phrase Finderによると、


ワニは獲物を食べるときに涙を流すという古代の言い伝えから。

According to The Phrase Finder:

The allusion is to the ancient notion that crocodiles weep while devouring their prey.

Examples

• In crying crocodile tears, we know that this was a noisy, showy action.
• But there is this to be said at once, particularly about the crocodile tears in some newspapers.
• Some of the guys think these are crocodile tears—and Jordan even calls into question Lincoln's accent. — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, "'The Bachelorette' Season 14 Episode 2 Recap: So Many Good Arie Luyendyk Jr. Burns," 4 June 2018
• In a particularly dark October 1993 sketch, Saturday Night Live imitated their smoothly flat voices and the way their faces would crumple into crocodile tears. — Kaitlin Menza, Town & Country, "The Menendez Murders," 26 Sep. 2017
• You seem to be crying crocodile tears at the thought of having to miss work tomorrow.

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