Violent expression of sorrow before swilling gin (7)
I believe the answer is:
tearing
'violent' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'expression of sorrow before swilling gin' is the wordplay.
'expression of sorrow' becomes 'tear' (teardrop).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'swilling' indicates anagramming the letters (swill can mean to stir or swirl round).
'gin' is an anagram of 'ing'.
'tear'+'ing'='TEARING'
(Other definitions for tearing that I've seen before include "violent" , "'Pulling apart, ripping (7)'" , "splitting" , "Granite (anag.)" .)