"Don't cry wolf" ?!
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Hey folks, I’m reading a book which is filled out by this sentence: "don’t cry wolf!" or "I’m not crying wolf". Since English is my second language, it would be highly appreciated if someone could explain this for me. What does it mean? Is it a slang? Thanks Mehdi Mousavi
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Hey folks, I’m reading a book which is filled out by this sentence: "don’t cry wolf!" or "I’m not crying wolf". Since English is my second language, it would be highly appreciated if someone could explain this for me. What does it mean? Is it a slang? Thanks Mehdi Mousavi
Its from the days when we used to herd sheep. If you cried wolf and there wasn't one trying to take an animal from the flock you caused problems for the local people who came out to help chase it off. If you did it consistently it got to the point when people wouldn't come and help you because they thought you were lying. So in essence, you should only "cry wolf" when there is really a wolf.... Roger Allen Sonork 100.10016 I have a terminal disease. Its called life!
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Hey folks, I’m reading a book which is filled out by this sentence: "don’t cry wolf!" or "I’m not crying wolf". Since English is my second language, it would be highly appreciated if someone could explain this for me. What does it mean? Is it a slang? Thanks Mehdi Mousavi
Don't pretend something is wrong when everythings fine, or next time there really is something wrong everyone will be too tired of your setting off the alarm to believe you. :)
We don't need a thinker! We need a do-er! Someone who will act first, without considering the consequences. - Homer J Simpson
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Hey folks, I’m reading a book which is filled out by this sentence: "don’t cry wolf!" or "I’m not crying wolf". Since English is my second language, it would be highly appreciated if someone could explain this for me. What does it mean? Is it a slang? Thanks Mehdi Mousavi
It's a reference to one of Aesop's Fables - The Boy Who Cried Wolf[^] -- Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!
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Hey folks, I’m reading a book which is filled out by this sentence: "don’t cry wolf!" or "I’m not crying wolf". Since English is my second language, it would be highly appreciated if someone could explain this for me. What does it mean? Is it a slang? Thanks Mehdi Mousavi
I comes from an Esops fable (Spelling anyone?). It is the story of a shepherd boy. One day he was bored looking after the sheep, and decided to play a prank on the farmers/town people. He ran screaming into the town saying there was a wolf after the sheep. All the farmers ran out, to hunt the wolf... He laughed at them... He did it again a couple more times. Then one day a real wolf came after the sheep, this time the townspeople ingnored him, and the wolf got the sheep... (and the boy I think). Blade[DMS]
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Hey folks, I’m reading a book which is filled out by this sentence: "don’t cry wolf!" or "I’m not crying wolf". Since English is my second language, it would be highly appreciated if someone could explain this for me. What does it mean? Is it a slang? Thanks Mehdi Mousavi
Oh never mind, that was a poor joke. :) The phrase "don't cry wolf" means don't set off false alarms, or, don't lie or people with think you are lying even when you tell the truth. The story goes something like... Once upon a time there was a boy who used to cry "wolf!" to the shepherd when there was none, and so the shepherd would herd all his sheep to safety. After the third time the shepard ingored the boy's call of "wolf!" because he knew he would be lying. Then one day the boy does spot a wolf and cries out to warn the shepherd, but he ignores him because he thinks he is lying again and hence all his sheep were eaten. There is a similar story about a girl calling "fire!" from her bedroom window, but when there really was a fire no-one listened to her cries and she burned alive. [edit] So I was too slow and got the story wrong, but nevermind. :)
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
If all the colours in the world where buried in the sea, what would the little gum drops do, where would the rainbow be?
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I comes from an Esops fable (Spelling anyone?). It is the story of a shepherd boy. One day he was bored looking after the sheep, and decided to play a prank on the farmers/town people. He ran screaming into the town saying there was a wolf after the sheep. All the farmers ran out, to hunt the wolf... He laughed at them... He did it again a couple more times. Then one day a real wolf came after the sheep, this time the townspeople ingnored him, and the wolf got the sheep... (and the boy I think). Blade[DMS]
"Aesop's" :) See my post above for a link to a modernised version of the fable (I don't think the boy got eaten in the original, but didn't get any sympathy when he didn't have any sheep left) -- Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!