In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom or phrase “cry in the wilderness”.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of idioms in English. The expression “cry in the wilderness” is often used in newspapers, literature and speeches to describe a situation where someone is trying to warn others or draw attention to an important issue, but nobody listens. Knowing idiomatic meanings helps you understand the deeper tone of passages in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The idiom given is “cry in the wilderness”.
• Four explanatory options are provided.
• You have to choose the option that captures the established idiomatic meaning, not the literal one.
• The context is general English usage, especially public warnings or appeals.

Concept / Approach:
Literally, a “cry in the wilderness” would be a shout or call made in a remote, empty place where nobody is present to hear it. Figuratively, it refers to a warning, request, or complaint that is ignored or not taken seriously by others. The speaker may be right, but the society, authorities, or audience simply do not pay attention. So the emphasis is on “being unheard or unnoticed” rather than on the emotion of the cry itself.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Focus on the figurative idea: a voice that goes unheard or unheeded.Option A: “A complaint or warning that no one pays attention to” – this directly matches the figurative meaning.Option B: “A loud expression of personal sorrow” – this emphasises volume and sadness, but says nothing about being ignored by others.Option C: “A deliberate attempt to create panic among people” – that would describe fear-mongering, not an ignored warning.Option D: “A sudden but minor disappointment” – this is unrelated to the idea of speaking out without being heard.Thus, Option A correctly expresses the idiom's meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a sample sentence: “Her early climate warnings were a cry in the wilderness; only years later did governments finally listen.” Here, she was warning, but no one paid attention at the time. Replacing “a cry in the wilderness” with “a complaint or warning that no one pays attention to” keeps the meaning intact and makes the sentence fully clear.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B focuses on private sorrow, not public warnings. Option C introduces the idea of intentionally creating panic, which is the opposite of being ignored. Option D talks about minor disappointment, which has nothing to do with calling out to an unresponsive audience. None of these capture the sense of being unheard that defines the idiom.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes misinterpret idioms by sticking too closely to the literal words. With “cry in the wilderness”, they imagine only a sad, lonely person and choose options related to sorrow, but the real focus is on the cry not reaching anyone. Always recall how the phrase is used in real-world contexts like editorials and speeches.

Final Answer:
The idiom “cry in the wilderness” means a complaint or warning that no one pays attention to.