ENGLISH
REFERENCE

voice in the wilderness

idiom
Meaning

A person, publication, or other source of assertions that expresses an opinion, doctrine, or point of view which is ignored or rejected by almost all others; the actual utterance of an unpopular opinion, doctrine, or point of view.


Origin

disputed origin

From the Biblical accounts of John the Baptist, as in the Gospel of Mark, 1:2–4: "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness." (King James Version).

Examples
SIMPLE

He felt like a voice in the wilderness when he warned about the danger.

CONTEXTUAL

The scientist was a voice in the wilderness for years before the public finally accepted her findings on climate change.

COMPLEX

Despite his status as a renowned expert, his warnings about the economic collapse remained a voice in the wilderness, ignored by both the government and the financial markets.

Anchors to
Related idioms6entries
  1. 01

    find one's voice

    To become willing or able to talk or otherwise express one's opinions.

  2. 02

    good voice to beg bacon

    An unpleasant-sounding voice.

  3. 03

    keep one's voice down

    To hush or speak; softly or quietly.

  4. 04

    like the sound of one's own voice

    To talk a lot.

  5. 05

    raise one's voice

    To speak loudly, especially in anger.

  6. 06

    throw one's voice

    to make one’s voice appear to come from somewhere else

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