- set off alarm bells
- to warn of trouble and the need for action.
The report about worldwide climate change should sound alarm bells in every community.
New idioms dictionary. 2014.
set off alarm bells
Look at other dictionaries:
set off alarm bells — cause concern, activate warning systems … English contemporary dictionary
alarm bells — alarm/warning bells ► [plural] used to describe an occasion when you realize that something is wrong: ring/set off/sound warning bells »These figures should sound warning bells that the consumer economy is increasingly fragile. »Soaring costs of… … Financial and business terms
alarm bell — a larm ,bell noun 1. ) count a bell that rings to warn you of danger 2. ) alarm bells plural something that makes you feel something unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen: The report should set off alarm bells about standards in education … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
alarm — [[t]əlɑ͟ː(r)m[/t]] ♦♦♦ alarms, alarming, alarmed 1) N UNCOUNT: oft with/in N, N over/about n Alarm is a feeling of fear or anxiety that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen. The news was greeted with alarm by MPs... She sat up in alarm … English dictionary
alarm/warning bells — ► [plural] used to describe an occasion when you realize that something is wrong: ring/set off/sound warning bells »These figures should sound warning bells that the consumer economy is increasingly fragile. »Soaring costs of oil and gold set… … Financial and business terms
alarm — a|larm1 S2 [əˈla:m US əˈla:rm] n [Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: alarme, from Old Italian all arme to the weapon ] 1.) a piece of equipment that makes a loud noise to warn you of danger a burglar/fire/smoke alarm ▪ I forgot to set the burglar … Dictionary of contemporary English
Alarm clock — Clock radio redirects here. For the clocks synchronised by radio signals, see Radio clock. Traditional wind up (keywound), mechanical, spring driven alarm clock … Wikipedia
warning bells — Ⅰ. warning bells ► signs or information telling people that something bad might happen: »The figures should sound warning bells that the economy is still too fragile to enable interest rates to rise. Main Entry: ↑warning Ⅱ. alarm/warning bells ►… … Financial and business terms
Fire alarm control panel — A fire alarm control panel (FACP), also called a fire alarm panel. Technicians usually refer to the FACP as the panel. A fire alarm control panel is the central control device that receives information from input devices (smoke detectors, heat… … Wikipedia
The Alarm — For the 1914 film starring Fatty Arbuckle, see The Alarm (film). The Alarm The Alarm, 1984. Background information Also known as … Wikipedia
