cry foul
idiom
chiefly US
: to complain that someone has done something that is not fair
When her parents gave her a new bicycle, her sisters cried foul.
Examples of cry foul in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even today, the Israeli media is quick to cry foul whenever German politicians say anything that could potentially be construed as criticism of Israel.
—
Lauren Harrison, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2014
Still, some members of Congress continue to cry foul, and Ayotte has been leading the charge.
—Laura Pitter, Foreign Affairs, 23 Aug. 2016
Broadway fans may cry foul, but each film is different and needs to be marketed accordingly.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024
Her defenders cry foul, saying that what matters more than her misdeeds are her status as a black woman and that of her critics as right-of-center nonacademics.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
And the somewhat higher margins in Arizona, Georgia, et al. would foreclose any serious attempt to cry foul.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 7 July 2023
Republicans have contended the grants bankrolled an unfair turn-out-the-vote operation for Democrats and have said Democrats would cry foul if conservative groups gave similar donations to areas dominated by Republicans.
—Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2021
Orange County officials cry foul following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to move the region into the most restrictive reopening tier.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2020
Additionally, the governor's visit to the French Laundry restaurant in the middle of these orders last November caused many to cry foul.
—Megan Leonhardt, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2021
Lauren Harrison, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2014
Still, some members of Congress continue to cry foul, and Ayotte has been leading the charge.
—Laura Pitter, Foreign Affairs, 23 Aug. 2016
Broadway fans may cry foul, but each film is different and needs to be marketed accordingly.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024
Her defenders cry foul, saying that what matters more than her misdeeds are her status as a black woman and that of her critics as right-of-center nonacademics.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
And the somewhat higher margins in Arizona, Georgia, et al. would foreclose any serious attempt to cry foul.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 7 July 2023
Republicans have contended the grants bankrolled an unfair turn-out-the-vote operation for Democrats and have said Democrats would cry foul if conservative groups gave similar donations to areas dominated by Republicans.
—Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2021
Orange County officials cry foul following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to move the region into the most restrictive reopening tier.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2020
Additionally, the governor's visit to the French Laundry restaurant in the middle of these orders last November caused many to cry foul.
—Megan Leonhardt, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cry foul.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cry foul
Cite this Entry
“Cry foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cry%20foul. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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