Reptile rips into pseudo sympathy (9,5)

I believe the answer is:

crocodile tears

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'into pseudo sympathy' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'reptile rips' is the wordplay.
'reptile' becomes 'crocodile' (crocodile is a kind of reptile).
'rips' becomes 'tears' ('tear' can be a synonym of 'rip').
'crocodile'+'tears'='CROCODILE TEARS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for crocodile tears that I've seen before include "sign of insincerity" , "false signs of sympathy" , "no real show of pity" , "these are shed" , "Insincere show of sorrow" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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