The French expression “pleurer comme une Madeleine” translates literally to “to cry like a Mary Magdalene”. Based on biblical history, Mary Magdaleine was a witness to Jesus’ crucifixion.
The meanings of this idiom are as follows:
- to cry your eyes out
- to cry like a baby
Example sentences:
- Apres dix ans sans voir son fils, elle a pleuré comme une Madeleine. After not seeing her son for ten years, she cried her eyes out.
- Il a été tellement ému par le film qu’il a pleuré comme une Madeleine. He was so moved by the film that he cried like a baby.