tear-jerker

Meaning

A 'tear-jerker' is a highly emotional movie, book, play, or song that is designed to make people cry. It is a casual term used when discussing stories that pull at your heartstrings and evoke strong feelings of sadness or sympathy.

Examples

• Bring some tissues if you're going to watch that movie; it's a real tear-jerker.

  Bring some tissues if you're going to watch that movie; it's a real tear-jerker.

• I usually prefer comedies, but sometimes I'm in the mood for a good tear-jerker.

  I usually prefer comedies, but sometimes I'm in the mood for a good tear-jerker.

• That novel about the dog was such a tear-jerker that I couldn't finish it in public.

  That novel about the dog was such a tear-jerker that I couldn't finish it in public.

• The director is famous for making romantic tear-jerkers that leave everyone weeping.

  The director is famous for making romantic tear-jerkers that leave everyone weeping.

• The acoustic version of that song is an absolute tear-jerker.

  The acoustic version of that song is an absolute tear-jerker.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ That movie was a very tear-jerking.

  ✓ That movie was a real tear-jerker.

  'Tear-jerker' is a noun, while 'tear-jerking' is an adjective. You cannot use 'a' before an adjective without a noun following it.

• ✗ I cried a lot because it was a tear-maker.

  ✓ I cried a lot because it was a tear-jerker.

  Learners sometimes translate literally from their native languages, creating incorrect terms like 'tear-maker' instead of the established idiom 'tear-jerker'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• That anime series is a total ___; I cried during almost every episode.

  💡 A story that makes you cry.

  Show answer

  tear-jerker

• I'm not really into ___ films; I'd rather watch something action-packed.

  💡 Emotional movies designed to provoke tears.

  Show answer

  tear-jerker