A crying shame

[Werdna]

Test No. incompl/inter-43 "A Crying Shame", question 8

The trouble is that he's cried ......... so often that now he's in real trouble, nobody believes him.

(a) wolf
(b) tiger
(c) cat
(d) dog

Test No. incompl/inter-43 "A Crying Shame", answer 8

The trouble is that he's cried wolf so often that now he's in real trouble, nobody believes him.

Correct answer: (a) wolf

Your answer was: correct
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Could you please explain the expression "to cry wolf" and give may be sinonym phrase of it.

Thanks a lot!
Werdna

[Alan]

This expression refers to someone who asks for help again and again when it's not necessary and then when it really is needed, no-one takes any notice.
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English as a Second Language
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[Mosteque]

It probably stems from a fable. I vaguely remember that it was about a kiddo standing at the crossroad and crying that a wolf was attacking him. And when ppl came to help him, he was laughing at them. And once a real wolf attacked him and nobody came to help thinking that it was another of his stupid jokes.
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[Rich7]

humn ?? king of the jungle maybe ???

[Mosteque]

no no, it was rather sth by Grimm Brothers
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obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit

[Englishholic]

Isn't the word "that" missing in-between "now" and "he's"?
Englishholic

[Alan]

How many 'thats' do you want?

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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[Yankee]

.
Now that you ask, I'd agree that the word 'that' seems to be missing from the test sentence in exactly the spot EH pointed out. :wink:

If it's an overabundance of the word 'that' that worries you, a tiny bit of rewording might do the trick. For example, this would reduce the use of 'that' to just one or two:

The trouble is (that) he's cried wolf far too often, and now that he's in real trouble, nobody believes him.
.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Lost_Soul]

[Alan]

Hi,

Now We Are Six

or maybe a bit older

pace A A Milne.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Minnie]

There is a Chinese fable about a child who's a son of a farmer cried wolf,and he finally died.

[Kati Svaby]

From the Wikipedia:

The Boy Who Cried Wolf, is one of Aesop's Fables...
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