blow the whistle

English

Etymology

When used idiomatically, probably an allusion to a police officer blowing his or her whistle on observing a violation of the law.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

blow the whistle (third-person singular simple present blows the whistle, present participle blowing the whistle, simple past blew the whistle, past participle blown the whistle)

1. (idiomatic, usually with "on") To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.

   In some jurisdictions, it is illegal to fire a person for blowing the whistle on an employer.

2. (team sports) To make a piercing sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game.

Synonyms

• (disclose information): tattle, tell on; See also Thesaurus:rat out

Related terms

• whistle-blower

Translations

disclose information to the public

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 揭發／揭发 (zh) (jiēfā), 舉報／举报 (zh) (jǔbào), 告發／告发 (zh) (gàofā), 檢舉／检举 (zh) (jiǎnjǔ)

• Finnish: ilmiantaa (fi), antaa ilmi
• French: dénoncer (fr), dévoiler (fr), mettre à nu (fr), mettre au jour (fr)
• German: verpfeifen (de) (to the police e.g.), ausposaunen (de) (to the public)
• Portuguese: botar a boca no trombone (pt)
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: chivarse (es), dar el soplo

make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 吹哨 (zh) (chuīshào)

• Finnish: viheltää (fi), puhaltaa pilliin
• French: siffler (fr)
• German: pfeifen (de), abpfeifen (de) (to end)
• Portuguese: apitar (pt)
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: pitar (es)

See also

• speak truth to power