袂たもとを絞しぼる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

shed many tears; weep copiously

Literary idiom evoking the image of wringing out a sleeve soaked with tears. Used for deep, often prolonged weeping. The literal meaning is 'to wring out one's sleeve'.

• 彼かの女じょは悲かなしみのあまり袂たもとを絞しぼるほど泣ないた。

  She wept so bitterly that she could have wrung out her sleeves.

• その物もの語がたりを読よんで、思おもわず袂たもとを絞しぼった。

  Reading that story, I couldn't help but shed many tears.