cry wolf

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B1

Post

Example

“If the monitor keeps crying wolf over harmless activity, staff will stop checking its alerts.”

Dictionary details

Component words

cry wolf

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

keep the wolf from the door Neutral · CEFR B2

to earn or manage just enough to avoid poverty, hunger, or serious hardship

name names Neutral · CEFR B1

to identify specific people, especially those linked to wrongdoing or secrecy

take someone's word for it Neutral · CEFR B1

to believe what someone says without asking for evidence

tell it like it is Neutral · CEFR B1

to describe a situation frankly, without softening or hiding the truth

the whole story Neutral · CEFR B1

all the facts about a situation, including ones not yet known

break cover Neutral · CEFR B2

to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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