Brewer's: Crocodile's Tears

Hypocritical tears. The tale is, that crocodiles moan and sigh like a person in deep distress, to allare travellers to the spot, and even shed tears over their prey while in the act of devouring it.

As the mournful crocodile With sorrow snares relenting passengers.

Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI., iii. 1.

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language