Hyperbole is the answer to this question. Hyperbole is usually a statement that should not be taken literally. It is evident in reality that of course, Anthony did not cry a river of tears. Instead, this means that Anthony cried a lot that day. Some people would like to use hyperboles to make the meaning of the sentences more obvious.
Some may not immediately understand what specific sentences mean, mainly if simple used are words. The use of hyperboles can be useful in showing that the person stating the statement has strong feelings about what he is talking about.