cried havoc

Cried havoc is the past tense of "cry havoc," meaning to sound an alarm or give a signal for chaos and destruction.

The phrase comes from a military command releasing soldiers to plunder.

Shakespeare's "Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war" fixed it in English.

Now it means to warn of impending disaster or unleash destructive forces: The senator cried havoc over the proposed budget cuts.