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[cry buckets]{v. phr.} To shed an excessive amount of tears. •/Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat./

[cry for] or [cry out for] {v.}, {informal} To need badly; be lacking in. •/It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is crying for it./ •/The school is crying out for good teachers./

[cry out]{v.} 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. •/The woman in the water cried out "Help!"/ 2. To complain loudly; protest strongly. — Used with "against". •/Many people are crying out against the new rule./

[cry out for] See: CRY FOR.

[cry over spilled milk] or [cry over spilt milk] {v. phr.}, {informal} To cry or complain about something that has already happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. •/After the baby tore up Sue’s picture book, Sue’s mother told her there was no use crying over spilled milk./ •/You have lost the game but don’t cry over spilt milk./ Compare: MAKE ONE’S BED AND LIE IN IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

[crystal ball]{n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass) that is used by fortune-tellers. •/The fortune-teller at the fair looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip next year./ 2. Any means of predicting the future. •/My crystal ball tells me you’ll be making the honor roll./

[crystal gazing]{n.} The attempt to predict future events. •/The magician’s specialty was crystal gazing./

[cry uncle] See: SAY UNCLE.

[cry wolf]{v. phr.} To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there. •/The general said that the candidate was just crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the country./ (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)

[cub scout]{n.} A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. •/Jimmie is only seven, too young to be a Cub Scout./

[cucumber] See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.

[cudgel] See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.

[cudgel one’s brains] See: BEAT ONE’S BRAINS OUT.

[cue in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To add new information to that which is already known. •/Let’s not forget to cue in Joe on what has been happening./

[cuff] See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.

[culture vulture]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who is an avid cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a town visited, and brags about it. •/Aunt Mathilda is a regular culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European capital going to museums and operas./

[cup] See: IN ONE’S CUPS.

[cup of tea] also [dish of tea] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Something you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation. Used with a possessive. •/You could always get him to go for a walk: hiking was just his cup of tea./ Compare: DOWN ONE’S ALLEY. 2. Something to think about; thing; matter. •/That’s another cup of tea./ Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.