cry on

B1 informal inseparable transitive

In simple words

To go to someone and tell them your problems when you feel sad, looking for comfort.

Literal meaning: Physically crying while resting one's head on another person's shoulder.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

common

To seek emotional comfort from someone by sharing one's troubles and sadness with them. Usually in the phrase 'cry on someone's shoulder'.

"After the break-up, she needed someone to cry on — and her sister was always there for her."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Almost always used in the fixed expression 'cry on someone's shoulder'. Implies seeking emotional rather than practical support. The person offering the shoulder is the listener and comforter.

Commonly used with

shoulder friend partner family support comfort

Forms

Base

cry on

I/you/we/they

3rd person

cries on

he/she/it

Past simple

cried on

yesterday

Past participle

cried on

have + pp

-ing form

crying on

continuous

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Synonyms

lean on confide in turn to seek comfort from pour your heart out to

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