cry-baby
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who cries or complains excessively: "cry-baby" refers to someone, often a child, who weeps or whines easily over minor issues or disappointments.
- A habitual complainer: It can also describe an adult who frequently expresses dissatisfaction or self-pity over trivial matters.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Stop being such a cry-baby; it's just a small scratch. (A person who cries over a minor injury.)
- He's a cry-baby at work, always complaining about his workload. (A habitual complainer.)
Advanced Usage
- "to act like a cry-baby": to behave in an excessively emotional or whining manner.
- She acted like a cry-baby when she didn't get the promotion. (She complained and wept over the setback.)
Variants and Related Words
- Crybaby (n): alternative spelling of "cry-baby" (often written as one word).
- The team called him a crybaby for crying after losing the game. (Same meaning as "cry-baby".)
Synonyms
- Whiner: a person who complains in a peevish or irritating way.
- Complainer: someone who expresses dissatisfaction or annoyance.
- Weepy: inclined to cry easily.
Related Idioms
- Cry over spilled milk: to be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
- Don't be a cry-baby and cry over spilled milk; just clean it up. (Don't complain about a minor, irreversible event.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Cry out: to shout or make a loud noise in pain, fear, or distress.
- The cry-baby cried out when he stubbed his toe. (He shouted in pain.)