shout fire in a crowded theater

verb

To say something which is not protected by the First Amendment's right to freedom of speech because it would incite violence, panic or lawlessness.

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Meanings

verbshout fire in a crowded theater (third-person singular simple present shouts fire in a crowded theater, present participle shouting fire in a crowded theater, simple past and past participle shouted fire in a crowded theater)

present singular third person shouts fire in a crowded theater · participle present shouting fire in a crowded theater · participle past shouted fire in a crowded theater · past shouted fire in a crowded theater

  1. idiomaticTo say something which is not protected by the First Amendment's right to freedom of speech because it would incite violence, panic or lawlessness.
Cite this entry
APA

shout fire in a crowded theater. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shout%20fire%20in%20a%20crowded%20theater

MLA

“shout fire in a crowded theater.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shout%20fire%20in%20a%20crowded%20theater. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shout fire in a crowded theater,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shout%20fire%20in%20a%20crowded%20theater.

Source: shout fire in a crowded theater on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.