crying foul
Alleging unjust treatment
Crying foul is protesting that something is unfair or against the rules, from the sports official's call when a foul is committed.
The phrase often carries a hint of skepticism—suggesting the complaint may be exaggerated or self-serving: Losing candidates are crying foul over the vote count.
She cried foul when her proposal was passed over.
- outcryLoud public protest
- complaintExpression of discontent
- refereeSports rule enforcer
- bad callErroneous judgment or decision
- whistleblowingExposing hidden wrongdoing internally
raising objections · blowing the whistle · cheating · corruption · penalty · accusation · pointing fingers · indignation · misconduct · frustration · sour grapes · fraud · grievance · protest · injustice · unfair treatment · disputing · calling out
crying foulrolling with the punches
Accepting difficulties without resistance
grinning and bearing it · eating humble pie · sucking it up · taking it in stride · moving on
crying foulsuffering in silence
letting it go · keeping quiet · saying nothing · keeping mum · biting one's tongue
crying foultaking responsibility
self-criticism · looking inward · admitting fault · mea culpa · introspection
cry, cries, cried, crier, criers, foul, fouls, fouled, fouling