Crocodile tears
Crocodile tears is a false or insincere display of emotion such as a hypocrite crying fake tears of grief.
History and usage
The expression comes from an ancient anecdote that crocodiles weep in order to lure their prey, or that they cry for the victims they are eating.
An alternate explanation for the expression's origin is that crocodile tears cannot be authentic because crocodiles cannot cry; they lack tear ducts. Yet this is a myth: Crocodiles possess lacrimal glands which secrete a proteinaceous fluid, just like in humans, though tears will only be visible after a crocodile is out of the water for a prolonged period of time, and the eyes begin to dry out. However, while crocodiles can and do generate tears, they do not actually cry.
Crocodile tears and spanking
A spankee may put on a false show of contrition in an attempt to persuade their spanker to give them some leniency in a disciplinary spanking. Partiality in with children this will be displayed as turning on the water works.
This is also related to the parental threat of "Stop crying before I give you something to cry about", particularly when the parent thinks the crying is faked or exaggerated in an attempt of manipulation.
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