Meaning of cry wolf | Babel Free

Definitions

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

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“The politicians would cry⟳ wolf at the slightest provocation so when the real threat appeared no one believed them.”

“The newspaper placards that had cried "wolf!" so often, cried "wolf!" now in vain.”

“[…]and the critical sense⟳ of the professors counts for little, for they cry⟳ wolf too often[…]”

“[…]those who created the worst economic mess in postwar history should be the last⟳ people crying wolf 1,000 days into this administration[…]”

“These intensifying disasters now striking richer countries, she said, show⟳ that developing countries seeking the world’s help⟳ to fight⟳ climate change⟳ “have⟳ not been crying wolf.””

CEFR level