"A tearjerker" is an idiom that describes a story, movie, or event specifically designed to make the audience cry or feel deeply emotional. It's not used literally to describe something that physically causes tears (like onions). Instead, it refers to narratives or performances that are highly sentimental and often melodramatic, intending to elicit sadness, sympathy, or strong feelings of nostalgia.
The origin of the term is fairly self-explanatory: it combines "tear," referring to crying, and "jerker," implying something that provokes or elicits that response. The term likely emerged in the early 20th century with the rise of popular entertainment like sentimental novels and melodramatic theater.
The register is generally neutral, suitable for both casual and formal contexts, although it can sometimes carry a slightly informal or even sarcastic connotation depending on the tone of the speaker.
"Tearjerker" is most often used as a noun, typically preceded by the article "a" or used as an adjective. It can be modified by adjectives to describe the intensity or type of emotional manipulation, such as "a real tearjerker" or "a classic tearjerker." It can also be negated, such as "not a tearjerker" or "the very opposite of a tearjerker."
Using the phrase literally would sound unnatural. For example, saying "The dust storm was a tearjerker" (unless metaphorically referring to its emotional impact) would be incorrect. Overusing the term can also diminish its impact; it's best reserved for situations where the emotional manipulation is clear and deliberate.
These examples are sourced from a tearjerker on Ludwig.guru.
"It's also a tearjerker." — The New Yorker
"It was a tearjerker show, and everybody watched it." — The New York Times - Magazine
"A study has found that people's moods were more affected after crying during a tearjerker." — Independent
"The mood of the movie is wounded and ambiguous — it's the very opposite of a tearjerker." — The New Yorker
"His speech was already a tearjerker when he acknowledged his mother, who had passed away two weeks earlier." — The New Yorker
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/a+tearjerker
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| heartwarming story | Positive and uplifting, evokes feelings of happiness and comfort. |
| emotional roller coaster | Describes a story with many ups and downs, causing a range of emotions. |
| sad story | A straightforward description of a story that evokes sadness. |
| weepie | An informal term, similar to tearjerker, but often used with a slightly dismissive tone. |
| sentimental story | Focuses on feelings of nostalgia and tenderness. |
| melodrama | A story characterized by exaggerated emotions and sensational events. |
| pathos | A quality that evokes pity or sadness; more literary and formal. |
Common mistakes include:
Learners often misunderstand the meaning or try to interpret it literally, failing to recognize its figurative use to describe a sentimental or emotionally manipulative work.
| Expression | Idiomatic Meaning | Register | Avoid In |
|---|---|---|---|
| a tearjerker | A story, film, or event designed to evoke strong emotions, especially sadness. | Neutral | Situations requiring clinical or detached language. |
No, "a tearjerker" is almost always used figuratively. It describes a piece of media or an event intentionally designed to evoke strong feelings of sadness or sentimentality, not something that physically causes tears.
While both evoke sadness, "tearjerker" implies a deliberate attempt to manipulate emotions and elicit tears. A "sad story" is a broader term that simply describes a narrative with unhappy events, without necessarily implying intentional emotional manipulation.
To avoid misuse, remember that "tearjerker" describes something intentionally sentimental and emotionally manipulative. Don't use it literally or in contexts where a more neutral or technical term is appropriate. Be aware of its figurative use to describe a sentimental or emotionally manipulative work, rather than interpreting it literally.
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