Cry wolf

Meaning

Raise a false alarm so no one believes future warnings.

Usage

Used to warn against lying about dangers.

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.

Aesop's fable about a boy whose false warnings doomed animals to attack.

Rooted in ancient Greek literature and kept alive in English proverbs.