Blow the whistle

Meaning

Report illicit or unethical behavior.

Usage

Used for whistleblowers or raising alarms.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Refers to using a whistle to signal wrongdoing, similar to refs in sports.

Used in law and governance since the 20th century.