blows the whistle
Alerts the authorities
To blow the whistle is to expose wrongdoing or call attention to a violation.
The phrase comes from referees using whistles to stop play for fouls.
A person who reports misconduct—especially within an organization—is a whistleblower: She blew the whistle on the company's illegal dumping practices.
The phrase often implies going public despite personal risk.
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- wrongful terminationIllegal firing from job
- exposeMake known publicly
- cover upConceal misdeeds or errors
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
reveal · smoking gun · disclose · go public · speak out · justice · backlash · accountability · ethics committees · ombudsman · transparency · vindication · tip-off · denounce · courage · report · dismissal · snitch
blows the whistlecovers up
conceals · hides · suppresses · keeps mum · stonewalls
blows the whistleenables
Makes something possible
abets · turns a blind eye · aids and abets · colludes · runs interference
blows the whistlestands by
Supports or awaits action
keeps one's head down · bites one's tongue · holds one's peace · plays along
blow, blows, blew, blown, blowing, blower, whistle, whistles, whistled