Reduce Someone to Tears

What Does "Reduce Someone to Tears" Mean?

"Reduce someone to tears" is an English idiom. It means "to cause someone to cry or become extremely emotional, often as a result of frustration, sadness, or stress."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "reduce someone to tears" used in a sentence:

• The harsh criticism from her supervisor reduced her to tears during the meeting.
• The touching tribute at the memorial service reduced many attendees to tears.
• The constant bullying in school eventually reduced him to tears, affecting his self-esteem.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Reduce Someone to Tears" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

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