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Take Out an Onion

What Does "Take Out an Onion" Mean?

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"Take out an onion" is an English idiom. It means "to cry or shed tears." It is often humorously or sarcastically referred to as the action of taking out an onion.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "take out an onion" used in a sentence:
  • The touching movie scene made her take out an onion and pretend to cry.
  • Sometimes, emotional moments in films can make people take out an onion.
  • When moved by a heartfelt story, some may humorously claim to take out an onion to explain their tears.
meaning for take out an onion

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 "Take Out an Onion" 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.

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