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blow the whistle

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blow the whistle

 (on someone)

1. Fig. to report someone's wrongdoing to someone (such as the police) who can stop the wrongdoing. (Alludes to blowing a whistle to attract the police.) The citizens' group blew the whistle on the street gangs by calling the police. The gangs were getting very bad. It was definitely time to blow the whistle.

2. Fig. to report legal or regulatory wrongdoing of a company, especially one's employer, to authorities. She was fired for blowing the whistle on the bank's mismanagement of accounts, but she then sued the bank.

See also: blow, whistle

blow the whistle (on somebody/something)

to show to the public dangerous conditions or illegal activities I knew my company was polluting the water, but I was afraid I would lose my job if I blew the whistle on it.

Usage notes: usually something bad is shown in the hope of correcting it

See also: blow, whistle

blow the whistle

Slang

To expose a wrongdoing in the hope of bringing it to a halt: an attorney who blew the whistle on governmental corruption.

See also: blow, whistle