cry wolf
/kraɪ wʊlf/to give a false alarm or raise a false alarm repeatedly, causing others to ignore genuine warnings
The fire alarm went off, but it was just a drill—someone had been crying wolf all week.
Repeated false alarms made people ignore the alarm, even when it might have been real.
Don’t cry wolf about your project being late; we need to trust your deadlines.
Don’t repeatedly raise false alarms about delays; we need reliable updates.
Often used to describe someone who habitually lies or exaggerates to get attention.
Collocations
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Avoid overusing alarms
If you cry wolf too often, people may stop taking your warnings seriously, even when they are real.
⚡Gold Rule
Trustworthiness matters
Only raise alarms when they are genuine; repeated false alarms damage credibility.
📖Word Origin
From the Aesop's fable 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf,' where a shepherd boy repeatedly tricks villagers into thinking a wolf is attacking his flock by shouting 'Wolf!' When a real wolf appears, the villagers ignore his cries, leading to the sheep being eaten.
📝Usage Notes
This idiom is used to criticize someone who habitually lies or exaggerates to gain attention, making others less likely to believe them when they are telling the truth.