blow the whistle

phrase

: to call public or official attention to something (such as a wrongdoing) kept secret
usually used with on
blew the whistle on the firm's unethical practices

Examples of blow the whistle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As Cape Verde prepared its defense, the referee blew the whistle, meaning Messi could proceed. Tim Rohan, NBC news, 4 July 2026 After the referees blew the whistle dead in the fourth quarter, Clark and Bonner got entangled in an exchange of words. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blow the whistle was in 1938

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blow the whistle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blow%20the%20whistle. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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