This phrase features as a cryptic immediate in a puzzle, significantly a crossword. The answer sought is the title of a widely known kids’s story the place a personality mistakenly believes a chunk of particles signifies a catastrophic occasion. The story usually incorporates a character warning others, creating widespread panic based mostly on misinterpreted proof. An instance is a clue may learn: “Fable of unwarranted alarm (4,4,5).”
The recognition of this specific puzzle component stems from the story’s enduring presence in tradition. Its narrative serves as a cautionary story towards believing unsubstantiated claims and the risks of mass hysteria. It additionally supplies a recognizable and readily solvable reply for crossword constructors, assuming a fundamental stage of cultural literacy on the a part of the solver. Its enduring utilization highlights the timeless attraction and relevance of the fable’s message.