society > communication > information > rumour > [noun] > about spies
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing apprehension or alarm > [noun] > alarm > something that alarms > rumours causing fears about spies
1923 R. Macaulay iii. xxi. 257 The German spy scare, the British spy scare, these fevers were worked up in the jingo press.
1976 J. Lee 74 I like an informed citizenry. Spy scares keep them alert.