What is "crocodile tears"

Crocodile \Croc"o*dile\ (kr[o^]k"[-o]*d[imac]l; 277), n. [L. crocodilus, Gr. kroko`deilos: cf. F. crocodile. Cf. Cookatrice.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A large reptile of the genus Crocodilus, of several species. They grow to the length of sixteen or eighteen feet, and inhabit the large rivers of Africa, Asia, and America. The eggs, laid in the sand, are hatched by the sun's heat. The best known species is that of the Nile ( Crocodilus vulgaris, or Crocodilus Niloticus). The Florida crocodile ( Crocodilus Americanus) is much less common than the alligator and has longer jaws. The name is also sometimes applied to the species of other related genera, as the gavial and the alligator.

2. (Logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.

   Crocodile bird (Zo["o]l.), an African plover ( Pluvianus [ae]gypticus) which alights upon the crocodile and devours its insect parasites, even entering its open mouth (according to reliable writers) in pursuit of files, etc.; -- called also Nile bird. It is the trochilos of ancient writers.

   Crocodile tears, false or affected tears; hypocritical sorrow; -- derived from the fiction of old travelers, that crocodiles shed tears over their prey. [1913 Webster] ||

n. 1 (plural of crocodile tear English)Category:English plurals 2 (context idiomatic English) A display of tears that is forced or false.

n. a hypocritical display of sorrow; false or insincere weeping; "the secretaries wept crocodile tears over the manager's dilemma"; "politicians shed crocodile tears over the plight of the unemployed"

Crocodile Tears is the eighth novel in the Alex Rider series by British author Anthony Horowitz. It was released in the UK on 12 November 2009, published by Walker Books, and in the U.S. on 17 November 2009. On 17 December 2008, the title was revealed (in code) to be Crocodile Tears. The book was succeeded by Scorpia Rising, released in March 2011.