blow the whistle on

1. Expose corruption or other wrongdoing, as in The President's speech blew the whistle on the opposition's leaking information . [ Colloquial ; 1930s]

2. Put a stop to, as in The registry decided to blow the whistle on new vanity plates . The term originally alluded to ending an activity (such as factory work) with the blast of a whistle. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Instead, eight months later, Smith filed his own lawsuit against the city, alleging he faced retaliation for trying to blow the whistle on a range of misconduct within the LAPD.

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The BBC's undercover reporter repeatedly filmed officers revelling in the use of force, revealing a culture of confidence and trust that colleagues would not blow the whistle on them.

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They urged him to appeal, to blow the whistle on the whole plot.

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It “would safeguard the rights of federal employees who blow the whistle on violations of laws, including by their supervisors,” he said.

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“This appears to be another attempt by the Senator to retaliate against Mr. Condit and cause him and his family further harm for daring to stand up to her and blow the whistle on the Senator’s misconduct,” wrote Arya Rhodes, an attorney on the case.

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Related Words

• adjourn 
• arrest 
• bar 
• block 
• break off 
• cease 
• curb 
• deter 
• end 
• hamper 
• impede 
• interrupt 
• stall 
• stem 
• stop 
• suspend 
• terminate