warn

kill one to warn a hundred

To kill someone as an example to deter others from acting in a certain way. The dictator will certainly kill one to warn a hundred—he thinks it's the best way to keep the people in line.
See also: hundred, kill, one, warn

warn (one) away (from someone or something)

To caution one to leave or not to come near someone or something. The first noun or pronoun can also come after "away." Police had to warn people away from the wild bear, as they kept wanting to get close enough to take a photo. The government put up a sign warning away any potential hikers. My parents tied to warn me away from him, but I just found him too irresistible.
See also: away, someone, warn

warn (one) off (from someone or something)

To caution someone to leave or not to come near something. The first noun or pronoun can also come after "off." The government put up signs warning off any potential hikers from the area. I held my shotgun across my chest as I warned the ruffians off from my land.
See also: off, someone, warn

warn about (someone or something)

1. To provide information in advance about the risks or dangers associated with someone or something. Analysts have been warning about a likely downturn in the economy for months now, so this dip in the market shouldn't come as a surprise. Police are warning about a number of escaped inmates who are at large in the area.
2. To caution someone about someone or something; to inform someone about the risks or dangers of someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "warn" and "about." My mom always warns me about the dangers of texting while driving. You need to warn him about Allison before he falls prey to her usual tricks.
See also: warn

warn against (something)

To caution (someone) not to do something that is dangerous or risky. A noun or pronoun can be used between "warn" and "against." My mother always warned me against hanging out with hoodlums like you, and now I know why. Doctors are warning against spending too much time outside during this week's heatwave.
See also: warn

warn of (someone or something)

1. To provide information in advance about some potential source of harm, danger, or trouble. Analysts have been warning of a likely downturn in the economy for months now, so this dip in the market shouldn't come as a surprise. Police are warning of a number of escaped inmates who are at large in the area.
2. To caution someone about something; to inform someone of the risks or dangers of something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "warn" and "of." My mom always warns me of the dangers of texting while driving. I wish someone has warned me of her kleptomania before we started dating.
See also: of, warn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

warn someone about someone or something

to advise someone about the dangers associated with someone or something. Didn't I warn you about the dangers of going there? I warned you about Alice.
See also: warn

warn someone against someone or something

to advise someone against someone, something, or doing something. We warned them all against going to the region at this time. I warned her against Gerald.
See also: warn

warn someone away from someone or something

to advise someone to avoid someone or something. We warned her away from the danger, but she did not heed our warning. Why didn't you warn me away from Roger?
See also: away, warn

warn someone of something

to advise someone that something bad is likely to happen. I wish you had warned us of what was going to happen. Please warn John of the heavy traffic he may run into.
See also: of, warn

warn someone off

to advise a person to stay away. We placed a guard outside the door to warn people off until the gas leak could be fixed. The guards warned off everyone in the vicinity.
See also: off, warn
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

warn about

v.
1. To make someone aware of the actual or potential harm, danger, or evil associated with something: I warned the kids about riding their bikes in the street.
2. To make aware in advance of some actual or potential harm, danger, or evil: The report warned about a possible attack.
See also: warn

warn against

v.
To advise someone that something is dangerous or problematic and should be avoided: I warned them against driving without seatbelts. The doctor warns against smoking.
See also: warn

warn away

v.
To notify someone to go or stay away: The guide warned the tourists away from the edge of the cliff. The sign warned away trespassers.
See also: away, warn

warn of

v.
To make someone aware in advance of some actual or potential harm, danger, or evil: The doctor warned them of the flu epidemic. The employees were warned of the company's impending bankruptcy.
See also: of, warn

warn off

v.
To notify someone to go or stay away: The sheriff warned them off the private property.
See also: off, warn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • kill one to warn a hundred
  • be in at the kill
  • (one) will kill (someone)
  • have (some) time to kill
  • have time to kill
  • kill with kindness, to
  • killed off
  • kill off
  • (one) is going to kill (someone)
  • killed outright
References in periodicals archive
However, there is a shift in the thematic focus of B to 'tobacco smokers' who are still young and who are being warned of a specific future consequence - 'die young'.
"I warn you not to go into the streets alone after dark or into the streets in large crowds of protest in the light."
The postsale duty to warn is based on negligence rather than strict liability in tort.
According to Rowley, "HQ personnel never disclosed to the Minneapolis agents that the Phoenix division had, only approximately three weeks earlier, warned of al-Qaeda operatives in flight schools seeking flight training for terrorist purposes!"
MISHNA: If one jealously warns his wife (not to associate with a certain man), R.
In lieu of passing laws against drinking and conceiving, state and local government leaders enlisted in the crusade to warn by promoting health education.
Warn has sold aftermarket accessories in South Korea through a distributor, but the agreements are the firm's first with Korean automakers.
Hans Blix, the chief UN inspector, did warn Iraqi officials, however, that they must cooperate more "than they have done."
Superior Court (Upjohn Co.) recently held that drug manufacturers are subject to strict liability, rather than simple negligence, for failure to warn of known or knowable pharmaceutical risks.1 In doing so, the court recognized the distinction between design defect and failure to warn claims, and it laid to rest the question of whether its decision in Brown v.
First, the city established a dedicated pager system to warn people simultaneously throughout the city.
'I warn you not to be ordinary; I warn you not to be young; I warn you not to fall ill and I warn you not to grow old.'
The advisories warn that women of childbearing age and children should avoid methylmercury, which can impede the development of the nervous system in fetuses, infants, and young children.
This information can either be used to warn the driver that he is getting too close, or automatically maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front.