blow the whistle

phrase

: to call public or official attention to something (such as a wrongdoing) kept secret
—usually used with on
blew the whistle on the firm's unethical practices

Examples of blow the whistle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In November 2024, assassins on a motorcycle in the Pacific port city of Manzanaillo shot dead a rear admiral who was said to have blown the whistle on navy entanglement in fuel-smuggling. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 The practice referees didn’t blow the whistle on the second sack, allowing quarterback Malik Willis to throw a completion to tight end Ben Sims that converted a first down. — Omar Kelly august 3, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026 The ads were allowed to begin 20 seconds after the referee blew the whistle for the break and had to end 30 seconds before play started again, which meant there was room for eight extra 30-second ad slots per match. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 As Cape Verde prepared its defense, the referee blew the whistle, meaning Messi could proceed. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for blow the whistle

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blow the whistle was in 1938

Rhymes for blow the whistle

See All Rhymes for blow the whistle

Browse Nearby Words

blow the lid off
blow the whistle
blow to pieces
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blow the whistle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blow%20the%20whistle. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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