Cry wolf
Meaning
To give a false alarm or warning repeatedly, causing people to disregard genuine emergencies when they occur.
Origin
The phrase pulls directly from Aesop's timeless fable, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." In the story, a bored shepherd boy guarding his flock repeatedly tricks villagers into thinking a wolf is attacking by yelling for help. After several false alarms, the villagers grow weary and ignore his cries. Consequently, when a real wolf finally appears and attacks the sheep, the boy's desperate pleas go unanswered, leading to the flock's destruction. This cautionary tale swiftly entered common parlance, immortalizing the warning against losing credibility through deceit.
Examples
- If you keep crying wolf about needing help with your homework, your parents won't believe you when you actually struggle.
- The security guard cried wolf so many times about suspicious activity that no one responded when a real break-in occurred.