turn on the waterworks
Start to weep, as in Whenever Dad refuses a request of hers she turns on the waterworks. This term implies that one begins to weep deliberately, as though switching on a system of pipes connected to reservoirs.
Words nearby turn on the waterworks
turn of the screw, the,
turn of the tide,
turn off,
turn on,
turn on one's heel,
turn on the waterworks,
turn one's back on,
turn one's hand to,
turn one's head,
turn one's stomach,
turn out