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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

kiss and cryi'm a lone wolffar crycry uncleCry Over Spilled Milkcry upsell wolf ticketsdon't cry over spilled milkcry one's eyes outcry the bluescry outcry out forhave the wolf by the earKeep the Wolf from the Door

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