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cry wolf

To raise a false alarm; to constantly warn others about an imagined threat, thereby failing to get assistance when a real threat appears.

Etymology:

  • From the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf, where a little boy amuses himself by crying "wolf" to see the panic he causes in the community, but consequently does not get help when a real wolf appears.
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The politicians would cry wolf at the slightest provocation so when the real threat appeared no one believed them.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'cry wolf':

Cry WolfTo send out a wrong signal of any threat or impending danger, a false alarm
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to cry wolf

cry over spilled milkKeep the Wolf from the Doori'm a lone wolfcry one's eyes outcry someone a rivercry someone a rivercry the bluescry outfar cryman is a wolf to mancry unclecry one's eyes outlone wolfdon't cry over spilled milk

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