warn of (someone or something)

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 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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • warn of
  • warn about
  • warn about (someone or something)
  • taught
  • teach (one) a lesson
  • teach a lesson
  • teach somebody a lesson
  • teaching
  • not mean (one) any harm
  • mean (one) no harm