[bore] {sb} to tears
1
to make someone feel extremely bored, irritated, or frustrated, particularly by talking too much or doing things that annoys them
The origin of the idiom "bore someone to tears" is rooted in the figurative use of the word "bore," meaning to cause someone to feel bored or uninterested. The addition of "to tears" or "to death" intensifies the notion of extreme boredom, emphasizing the extent to which the person is disinterested. The phrase is mostly used to suggest that the subject or activity being discussed or experienced is so dull, unexciting, or tedious that it elicits a strong emotional response of weariness or even a desire for it to end.
- The lecture on tax law bored me to tears; I struggled to stay awake through its monotonous delivery.
- The long-winded speaker at the conference bored the audience to tears with his repetitive and uninteresting presentation.
- The documentary about knitting bored me to tears; I couldn't muster any interest in the subject matter.
- The history class was so dry and unengaging that it bored the students to tears, resulting in a lack of participation.
- The drawn-out board meeting bored everyone to tears; the agenda lacked relevance and failed to capture their attention.