Cry wolf

To cry wolf means to raise a false alarm, especially repeatedly, so that people may stop trusting later warnings. The phrase comes from the story of a shepherd boy in Aesop's Fables who calls for help when no wolf is there.

Where it comes from

The boy's false alarms

The phrase comes from the story of a shepherd boy who tricks nearby villagers into thinking a wolf is attacking his sheep.

In Aesop's Fables, the boy calls for help to amuse himself. The villagers hurry to protect the flock, only to discover that there is no wolf.

In Aesop's Fables; A New Translation by Aesop

A warning nobody trusts

Today, the phrase warns that repeated false alarms can make a genuine warning harder to believe. It can describe deliberate tricks or careless claims of danger.

When a wolf really appears in Aesop's Fables, the boy calls for help again. The villagers no longer believe him, and the sheep are left unprotected.

In Aesop's Fables; A New Translation by Aesop

How to use Cry wolf

Use it for a false or repeatedly exaggerated warning.
Make clear which warnings have damaged trust.
Avoid using it to dismiss a warning without checking the facts.

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Does crying wolf always mean lying?

No, it can also mean raising alarms carelessly or exaggerating a danger. The boy in Aesop's Fables deliberately deceives the villagers, but everyday use can include someone whose repeated warnings turn out to be unfounded, even without an intent to trick.

Can someone who cried wolf later be telling the truth?

Yes, a later warning can be true even if earlier ones were false. That is the central danger in Aesop's Fables: the wolf eventually does appear, but the boy's earlier tricks have destroyed the villagers' trust.