泣(な)き落(お)とし

なきおとし
noun
winning someone over by crying; tearful persuasion
communication
1. winning someone over by crying; tearful persuasion; using tears to get one's way
A persuasion tactic where someone cries or makes an emotional plea to get what they want. Often implies manipulation or insincerity.
泣(な)き落(お)としで頼(たの)む。
To beg with tears.
泣(な)き落(お)としにあって、つい許(ゆる)してしまった。
Subjected to a tearful plea, I ended up forgiving them.
I knew he wasn't the type to be swayed by tears, but I had no other option.

Usage

Generally carries a negative nuance of manipulation. The person using this tactic may or may not be genuinely upset — the emphasis is on using emotion as a tool of persuasion.

Common patterns

  • 泣(な)き落(お)としにあう (to be subjected to tearful persuasion)
  • 泣(な)き落(お)としが通(つう)じる (tearful persuasion works)
  • 泣(な)き落(お)としで〜する (to do something by tearful pleading)
  • 泣(な)き落(お)とし作戦(さくせん) (the crying strategy)