hue and cry

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈhue and ˈcry, n. [countable* usually singular]

1. public clamor, protest, or alarm.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hue′ and cry′, 

1. Law [Early Eng. Law.] the pursuit of a felon or an offender with loud outcries or clamor to give an alarm.
2. any public clamor, protest, or alarm:
   a general hue and cry against the war.
• Middle English, translation of Anglo-French hu et cri. See hue², cry 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hue and cry noun

1. (formerly) the pursuit of a suspected criminal with loud cries in order to raise the alarm
2. any loud public outcry

Etymology: 16th Century: from Anglo-French hu et cri, from Old French hue outcry, from huer to shout, from hu! shout of warning + cri cry