IDIOMS
World of sports
IN ENGLISH, THE BUSINESS WORLD DRAWS SIGNIFICANT INSPIRATION FROM THE WORLD OF SPORTS, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN MANY COMMONLY USED EXPRESSIONS. WE HAVE COMPILED A LIST OF OVER 130 SUCH EXPRESSIONS, COMPLETE WITH EXPLANATIONS AND EXAMPLES.
CRY FOUL.
The expression "cry foul" is used when a person or organization publicly objects to something they perceive as unfair or a violation of the rules.
It originates from the world of sports, particularly games like basketball and soccer, where a foul refers to an infraction. When a player or team cries foul, they are accusing an opponent of acting unfairly or outside the rules.
Examples in a business context:
Many exporting companies cried foul when the new tariffs were announced.
When the government launched this service, many affected small businesses cried foul.
As the two leading companies in the sector were discussing a potential merger, several competitors cried foul, claiming it would create a monopoly.
