Man I hate that phrase, it was always used by my parents to imply my tears were fake, that I was doing them for attention and not real sorrow or pain.

If your daughter is crying because she's in pain or upset emotionally, they're not crocodile tears. Saying they are is invalidating her.

I remember my dad spanking me with a belt and when I cried in pain he called it "crocodile tears" and it's always stayed with me. I hate it so much. I hate it more than the actual belting.