# What do you call gasps while crying **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 24, 2016, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963 "2016-02-24T10:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/1 "2016-02-24T10:15:54Z")
Hi I was wondering what it is called when people have a kind of gasp while crying… I had that for some of the “Risen” movie and also had tears streaming down my face. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/2 "2016-02-24T10:29:22Z")
It is a bit like choking. Is it called “choking up”? ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/3 "2016-02-24T10:42:19Z")
Sobbing? ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/4 "2016-02-24T12:47:45Z")
Spasmodic contractions of breath. Or you could go with the adjective herky-jerky depending on whether you want to add a dollop of humor to whatever sobbing situation you are thinking of describing. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/5 "2016-02-24T12:49:58Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Spasmodic contractions of breath. **Ellecram** , wins the internet today. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/6 "2016-02-24T13:12:24Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > Hi I was wondering what it is called when people have a kind of gasp while crying… I had that for some of the “Risen” movie and also had tears streaming down my face. How much was your ticket? I can understand being upset about wasting some cash, but come on . . . ETA: maybe “hitched” breathing? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/7 "2016-02-24T15:41:23Z")
Jags? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/8 "2016-02-24T15:45:11Z")
If the OP is not describing “sobbing” … what do most people thing “sobbing” means? I thought “gasping while crying” was textbook “sobbing”? EDIT: adding link to [dictionary definition of “sob”](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sob). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/9 "2016-02-24T16:12:15Z")
Gulping air? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/10 "2016-02-24T19:52:39Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > How much was your ticket? I can understand being upset about wasting some cash, but come on . . . > > ETA: maybe “hitched” breathing? Make that two for “hitch.” ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/11 "2016-02-25T00:52:06Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > If the OP is not describing “sobbing” … what do most people thing “sobbing” means? > > I thought “gasping while crying” was textbook “sobbing”? > > EDIT: adding link to [dictionary definition of “sob”](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sob). To me “sobbing” is the sound of the crying with the exhale, e.g., “boo hoo hoo!”, not the gasping for air. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/12 "2016-02-25T01:17:59Z")
I call it a gasp. Why invent another word? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/13 "2016-02-25T04:05:49Z")
Sobs. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/14 "2016-02-25T10:37:20Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > If the OP is not describing “sobbing” … what do most people thing “sobbing” means? > > I thought “gasping while crying” was textbook “sobbing”? > > EDIT: adding link to [dictionary definition of “sob”](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sob). It says: “to cry noisily while taking in short, sudden breaths” I wasn’t crying noisily but I did have short sudden breaths. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/15 "2016-02-25T10:38:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > How much was your ticket? I can understand being upset about wasting some cash, but come on . . . I got a special deal from RACQ for AUS$10. Normally it would be $17 for an adult. It was a Sony movie and I associate them with quality. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/16 "2016-02-25T11:28:48Z")
Sometimes long after a child has been crying and they’ve settled down, they’ll do the ragged intake of breath with no other associated noises. IMO this is not sobbing, the inhalation is something else. Crying WITH the gasping is sobbing, sure, but the gasping itself is not sobbing. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/17 "2016-02-25T12:53:44Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > It says: > “to cry noisily while taking in short, sudden breaths” > > I wasn’t crying noisily but I did have short sudden breaths. I know exactly what you’re talking about, and choking up is probably the best name I’ve heard for it. You’re sobbing but not audibly. I guess that means you could say “sobbing silently.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/18 "2016-02-25T13:16:51Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > I got a special deal from RACQ for AUS$10. Normally it would be $17 for an adult. It was a Sony movie and I associate them with quality. Then why the tears? ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/19 "2016-02-25T21:44:02Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Then why the tears? I was moved by things like Yeshua (Jesus) and other parts of it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-gasps-while-crying/746963/20 "2016-02-26T12:51:04Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > I was moved by things like Yeshua (Jesus) and other parts of it. But I thought he lived. (Spoilered for those who haven’t seen the movie)