turn on the waterworks

verb

To start crying, especially in an insincere or annoying way.

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Meanings

verbturn on the waterworks (third-person singular simple present turns on the waterworks, present participle turning on the waterworks, simple past and past participle turned on the waterworks)

present singular third person turns on the waterworks · participle present turning on the waterworks · participle past turned on the waterworks · past turned on the waterworks

  1. figurativelyinformalTo start crying, especially in an insincere or annoying way.
Cite this entry
APA

turn on the waterworks. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20on%20the%20waterworks

MLA

“turn on the waterworks.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20on%20the%20waterworks. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “turn on the waterworks,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20on%20the%20waterworks.

Source: turn on the waterworks on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.