protest

methinks the lady doth protest too much

Used to indicate that someone (not necessarily a woman) is only denying something so fervently because the opposite is actually true. Adapted from the line "the lady doth protest too much, methinks" in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene ii. A: "No, I already told you, I do not like Tom in that way! We have nothing in common! There's no way we would be romantically suited to one another!" B: "Hmm, methinks the lady doth protest too much." A: "Shut up, I do not like Dungeons and Dragons! I'm no nerd!" B: "Haha, chill out, dude. It's not that big a deal." C: "Seriously, man. Methinks the lady doth protest too much."
See also: doth, lady, methinks, much, protest

methinks thou dost protest too much

Used to indicate that someone (not necessarily a woman) is only denying something so fervently because the opposite is actually true. Adapted from the line "the lady doth protest too much, methinks" in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene ii. A: "No, I already told you, I do not like Tom in that way! We have nothing in common! There's no way we would be romantically suited to one another!" B: "Hmm, methinks thou dost protest too much." A: "Shut up, I do not like Dungeons and Dragons! I'm no nerd!" B: "Haha, chill out, dude. It's not that big a deal." C: "Seriously, man. Methinks thou dost protest too much!"
See also: dost, methinks, much, protest, thou

protest about (someone or something)

1. To complain about, object to, or vocally disapprove of someone or something. The kids wouldn't stop protesting about going on a camping trip instead of going to Disney Land. I heard that someone has been protesting about me to upper management.
2. To join or participate in a public demonstration or rally in opposition to someone or something. Nearly 40,000 marchers descended on the capitol building protesting about the government's new law. A large group of students are protesting about the new university president.
See also: protest

protest against (someone or something)

1. To complain about, object to, or vocally disapprove of someone or something. The kids wouldn't stop protesting against my camping trip idea, saying they wanted to go to Disneyland instead. I heard that someone has been protesting against me to upper management.
2. To join or participate in a public demonstration or rally in opposition to someone or something. Nearly 40,000 marchers descended on the capitol building to protest against the government's new law. A large group of students are protesting against the university's new president.
See also: protest

protest too much

To deny something so often and/or so forcefully that people think one is not telling the truth. Taken from a line in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Methinks the lady doth protest too much" (and often used in that structure). At even the slightest suggestion that there might be some impropriety in the company's accounts, the manager flies into a rage. He protests a bit too much, don't you think? Sheila mentions at every opportunity how she loves her husband and didn't marry him for his money—methinks she doth protest too much.
See also: much, protest

ripple of protest

1. A low murmur or series of murmurs complaining about or protesting against something. There was a ripple of protest or two among the staff when we announced the cutbacks, but pretty much everyone recognized that the company would go under without them. News of the school's decision sent ripples of protest through the crowded auditorium
2. A small, understated, or ineffective action or series of actions in protest of something. There have been a few ripples of protest in the streets following the passing of the controversial legislation, but they were quickly quelled by police.
See also: of, protest, ripple

the lady doth protest too much

Used to indicate that someone (not necessarily a woman) is only denying something so fervently because the opposite is actually true. Adapted from the line "the lady doth protest too much, methinks" in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene ii. A: "No, I already told you, I do not like Tom in that way! We have nothing in common! There's no way we would be romantically suited to one another!" B: "Hmm, the lady doth protest too much, it seems." A: "Shut up, I do not like Dungeons and Dragons! I'm no nerd!" B: "Haha, chill out, dude. It's not that big a deal." C: "Seriously, the lady doth protest too much!"
See also: doth, lady, much, protest

the lady doth protest too much, methinks

Used to indicate that someone (not necessarily a woman) is only denying something so fervently because the opposite is actually true. A line from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene ii. A: "No, I already told you, I do not like Tom in that way! We have nothing in common! There's no way we would be romantically suited to one another!" B: "Hmm, methinks the lady doth protest too much." A: "Shut up, I do not like Dungeons and Dragons! I'm no nerd!" B: "Haha, chill out, dude. It's not that big a deal." C: "Seriously, the lady doth protest too much, methinks."
See also: doth, lady, methinks, protest

thou dost protest too much, methinks

Used to indicate that someone (not necessarily a woman) is only denying something so fervently because the opposite is actually true. Adapted from the line "the lady doth protest too much, methinks" in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene ii. A: "No, I already told you, I do not like Tom in that way! We have nothing in common! There's no way we would be romantically suited to one another!" B: "Hmm, thou dost protest too much, methinks." A: "Shut up, I do not like Dungeons and Dragons! I'm no nerd!" B: "Haha, chill out, dude. It's not that big a deal." C: "Seriously, man. Thou dost protest too much, methinks."
See also: dost, methinks, protest, thou

under protest

Expressly against one's objections or disagreement. He signed the documents under protest, aware that he had no real agency in the matter.
See also: protest
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

protest about someone or something

 and protest against someone or something 
1. to complain about someone or something. Valerie is always protesting about some problem at work. She filed a complaint that protested against her supervisor.
2. to rally or demonstrate against someone or something. A number of people protested about the war. They were mainly protesting against the draft.
See also: protest

ripple of protest

quiet remarks protesting something; a small amount of subdued protest. There was only a ripple of protest about the new tax law. The rude comedian hardly drew a ripple of protest.
See also: of, protest, ripple
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

under protest

after expressing your objection or reluctance; unwillingly.
1997 Independent Jon Benet would come to the Griffin house for her lessons on deportment, disappearing into the basement—sometimes under protest—to practise Dior turns.
See also: protest
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

under ˈprotest

unwillingly and after expressing disagreement: The new contract was finally accepted, but only under protest.
See also: protest
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • dost
  • doth
  • methinks
  • methinks the lady doth protest too much
  • methinks thou dost protest too much
  • the lady doth protest too much
  • thou dost protest too much, methinks
  • the lady doth protest too much, methinks
  • pull around to
  • pull around to (something or some place)
References in periodicals archive
(TAP) - The report of the Tunisian Social Observatory under the Tunisian Forum of Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) revealed that the third quarter of 2017 has seen 3,136 collective protests.
Some 3,136 collective protests recorded in Q3 2017 (FTDES)
Dogar added that the government should not have right to govern if it cannot implement the laws and adding that the government can stop the protest by using force.
LHC reserves verdict on petition against PAT's protest in Lahore
Some of the teachers clearly argued that they would either die during the protest or take home the notification of their regularization.
Police baton charge teachers
Protest arises when there is strongly felt dissatisfaction with existing programs and policies of government or other organizations, on the part of those who feel themselves affected by these policies but who are unable to express their discontent through regular and legitimate channels, and who feel unable to exercise the weight to which they think they are entitled in the decision-making process.
TOWARDS A THEORY OF PROTEST
McLeod (2011) defines social protest "as a form of political expression that seeks to bring about social or political change by influencing the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the public or the policies of an organization or institution" (p.
How Large-Scale Protests Succeed in China: The Story of Issue Opportunity Structure, Social Media, and Violence
The controversial Protest Law was issued under former interim president Adly Mansour in November 2013, as a deterrent measure to pro- Brotherhood demonstrations.
3 students arrested following participation in on-campus protest
This included killing over 1,000 civilians on a single day at Rabaa and thereby committing the largest massacre in postcolonial Egyptian history, declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, issuing mass death sentences, and passing the new draconian protest law.
Protests haven't really ended in Egypt
Collective protests have significantly decreased from 860 in October 2015 to 349 collective movements in November 2015.
Tunisia: protests fall by half in November
I'm against protests, because these protests lead to grudges and conflicts among people, and it is not the only way to express our opinions.
Anti-Houthi protests: For or Against?
Catalin Augustin Stoica, Vintila Mihailescu (ed.), Iarna vrajbei noastre: protestele din Romania, ianuarie-februarie 2012 [The Winter of our Discontent: Protests in Romania, January-February 2012], Bucuresti: Paidea, 2012.
Catalin Augustin Stoica, Vintila Mihailescu (ed.), Iarna vrajbei noastre: protestele din Romania, ianuarie-februarie 2012
Last August 19, Locsin ordered the filing of protest over latest reports of unannounced transit of five Chinese warships in Sibutu Strait since July.
Locsin: PH filed 'more or less 60' diplomatic protests vs China since 2016
In Khar, scores of students participated in the protest and blocked the Khar-Peshawar road to traffic.
Students protest shortage of seats in Bajaur colleges
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) political party, which once held a months-long dharna to protest the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, and has often played the politics of protest to fulfil demands, is having to put up with other political parties' protests now in its government's time.
The Opposition Emboldened
A member of the Council of Patriots (CoP) Senator Sando Johnson of Bomi County distances himself from the July 24th protest.
Sen. Johnson opposes July 24th protest