Pousser un cri is a common French phrase. It means to let out a cry, or to utter a cry. The cry may be loud or soft. It may show fear, pain, shock, joy, anger, or surprise. The verb pousser normally means to push. In this phrase, it means to produce or utter a sound.

The structure is simple:

• pousser + un cri
• The noun may be expanded: un cri de peur, un cri de joie, un cri d’alarme

The subject can be a person, a group, or even an animal.

Basic meaning

At its core, pousser un cri means to emit a sudden cry.

Examples:

• J’ai poussé un cri. I let out a cry.
• Il a poussé un cri de douleur. He uttered a cry of pain.
• Ils ont poussé un cri de surprise. They let out a cry of surprise.
• On pousse un cri quand on a peur. You uttered a cry when you are afraid.

The cry is often brief and sudden.

Types of cries

The phrase is often followed by a noun that names the feeling.

Common patterns:

• un cri de peur cry of fear
• un cri de joie cry of joy
• un cri de colère cry of anger
• un cri d’alarme alarm cry
• un cri de détresse cry of distress

Examples:

• Tu as poussé un cri de peur. You let out a cry of fear.
• Il a poussé un cri de joie en voyant le résultat. He uttered a cry of joy when he saw the result.
• Nous avons poussé un cri d’alarme. We raised an alarm cry.
• Ils ont poussé un cri de colère. They let out a cry of anger.

Literal and figurative use

The phrase can be literal. Someone truly shouts or screams.

• Il a poussé un cri quand il est tombé. He uttered a cry when he fell.
• Le chien a poussé un cri. The dog let out a cry.

It can also be figurative. It may describe strong protest or public outrage.

• Les habitants ont poussé un cri contre la décision. The residents raised a cry against the decision.
• On a poussé un cri d’indignation. There was an outcry of indignation.

In such cases, English often uses the word outcry.

Tense and grammar

The phrase works in all tenses.

• Je pousse un cri. I let out a cry.
• Il poussait un cri chaque nuit. He would utter a cry each night.
• Nous pousserons un cri si ça arrive. We will let out a cry if that happens.

It can also appear in the negative:

• Il n’a pas poussé un cri. He did not utter a cry.

Related expressions

Several French verbs and phrases express a similar idea.

Close synonyms:

• crier to shout
• hurler to scream
• s’écrier to cry out
• lancer un cri to let out a cry
• faire entendre un cri to make a cry heard

Examples:

• Il a crié de peur. He shouted in fear.
• Ils ont hurlé de douleur. They screamed in pain.
• Je me suis écrié. I cried out.
• Il a lancé un cri d’alarme. He raised an alarm cry.

Differences:

• crier focuses on the act of shouting.
• hurler suggests a louder, wilder sound.
• pousser un cri often stresses the sudden release of a sound.

Fixed combinations

Some phrases are frequent in news or formal writing.

• Pousser un cri d’alarme to raise the alarm
• Pousser un cri d’indignation to express outrage
• Pousser un cri du cœur to speak from the heart

Examples:

• Les médecins ont poussé un cri d’alarme. The doctors raised the alarm.
• Ils ont poussé un cri d’indignation. They voiced their outrage.
• Il a poussé un cri du cœur. He spoke from the heart.

Everyday spoken use

In daily speech, it is common and natural.

• J’ai poussé un cri en voyant l’araignée. I let out a cry when I saw the spider.
• Tu as poussé un cri pour rien. You let out a cry for nothing.
• On a tous poussé un cri. We all let out a cry.

It is not slang. It is standard French and works in both speech and writing.

Summary

• Pousser un cri means to let out a cry.
• It often takes a complement such as de peur, de joie, or d’alarme.
• It can be literal or figurative.
• Common alternatives include crier, hurler, s’écrier, and lancer un cri.
• It is widely used in everyday French and in formal contexts.