Dictionary

blow the whistle en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

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.
   • In recent months, tech journalists at The New York Times have received quite a few such messages, sent by people who claim to have unlocked hidden knowledge with the help of ChatGPT, which then instructed them to blow the whistle on what they had uncovered. 2025 June 13, Kashmir Hill, “They Asked ChatGPT Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
2. (qualifier:team sports) To make a piercing sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game.

Forms

Relateds

whistle-blower · speak truth to power

Synonyms

tattle (disclose information) · tell on

Translations (35)

es pregonar (disclose information to the public) · fi ilmiantaa (disclose information to the public) · fr dénoncer (disclose information to the public) · pt botar a boca no trombone (disclose information to the public) · fi antaa ilmi (disclose information to the public) · es dar el soplo (disclose information to the public) · fi puhaltaa pilliin (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · cmn 檢舉 /检举 (disclose information to the public) · fi viheltää (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · de abpfeifen (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · pl gwizdnąć (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · es propalar (disclose information to the public) · es delatar (disclose information to the public) · pl zdemaskować (disclose information to the public) · cmn 吹哨 (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · pl nagłośnić (disclose information to the public) · pt apitar (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · de verpfeifen (disclose information to the public) · de pfeifen (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · cmn 舉報 /举报 (disclose information to the public) · cmn 告發 /告发 (disclose information to the public) · pl ujawniać (disclose information to the public) · pl gwizdać (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · pl ujawnić (disclose information to the public) · mi whāwhāki (disclose information to the public) · de ausposaunen (disclose information to the public) · es pitar (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game) · pl demaskować (disclose information to the public) · fr dévoiler (disclose information to the public) · fr mettre au jour (disclose information to the public) · es chivarse (disclose information to the public) · pl nagłaśniać (disclose information to the public) · fr mettre à nu (disclose information to the public) · cmn 揭發 /揭发 (disclose information to the public) · fr siffler (make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game)