The Archive

Etymology Journal · O

Oh, for crying in the sink!

Meaning

A very specific, kitchen-oriented variant of the cry-in-a-bucket exclamation. It implies that you are so frustrated that you have reached your limit while doing chores.

Domestic, testy

Used in a sentence

  • Oh, for crying in the sink, who left the dishes soaking for three days?
  • For crying in the sink, I just cleaned that floor.
  • For crying in the sink, get out of the way while I am cooking.

The backstory

A regional variation that likely sprouted up in Southern kitchens, where the sink is the center of many domestic frustrations.

Heard in

The South

Vibe check