alarm bell
noun
: a bell that sounds when an alarm is activated —often used figuratively
… the Mexican swine flu outbreak that is sounding alarm bells [=causing people to become worried or alarmed] across the world …
Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2009
Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2009The spike in oil prices has set off alarm bells across the automobile industry.
Word History
First Known Use
1548, in the meaning defined above
- chieve
- chiff
- chiffchaff
- fallen (in)
- fallen (to)
- fallen apart
- fallen away
- fallen back
- fallen back on
- fallen behind
- fallen down
- fallen flat
- fallen for
- fallen from grace
- fallen idol
- fallen in
- fallen in with
- fallen into
- fallen off
- fallen on one's face
- fallen out
- fallen short
- fallen short (of)
- fallen short of
- fallen star