alarm
noun /əˈlɑːm/
/əˈlɑːrm/
Idioms - [countable, usually singular] a loud noise or a signal that warns people of danger or of a problem
- She decided to sound the alarm (= warn people that the situation was dangerous).
- I hammered on all the doors to raise the alarm.
- By the time the alarm was raised the intruders had escaped.
Extra ExamplesTopics Dangerb1, Houses and homesb1- Many birds give alarm calls to warn of danger.
- Suddenly the alarm sounded and they all had to leave the building.
- Soldier termites sound an alarm by beating their large heads on passage walls.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- false
- give
- raise
- sound
- …
- call
- [countable] a device that warns people of a particular danger, or that a particular person is in danger
- a burglar/fire/smoke alarm
- The cat set off the alarm (= made it start ringing).
- A car alarm went off in the middle of the night (= started ringing).
- Carry a personal alarm with you.
- Install an alarm system and learn how to use it.
Extra ExamplesTopics Dangerb1- Unfortunately any little noise can set off the alarm.
- Lizzie was carrying a rape alarm but it was out of reach in her handbag.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fire
- smoke
- burglar
- …
- set
- activate
- set off
- …
- go off
- ring
- sound
- …
- bell
- clock
- system
- …
- [countable] a ringing sound or a tune played by a clock or your phone after you have set it to play at a particular time to wake you up
- The alarm went off at 7 o'clock.
- I set my alarm for 6.30.
- [uncountable] fear and worry that somebody feels when something dangerous or unpleasant might happen
- in alarm What have you done?’ Ellie cried in alarm.
- I felt a growing sense of alarm when he did not return that night.
- The doctor said there was no cause for alarm.
Synonyms fearfear- terror
- panic
- alarm
- fright
- fear the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger or when a particular thing frightens you:
- (a) fear of flying
- She showed no fear.
- terror a feeling of extreme fear:
- Her eyes were wild with terror.
- panic a sudden feeling of great fear that cannot be controlled and prevents you from thinking clearly:
- I had a sudden moment of panic.
- alarm fear or worry that somebody feels when something dangerous or unpleasant might happen:
- The doctor said there was no cause for alarm.
- fright a feeling of fear, usually sudden:
- She cried out in fright.
- a fear/terror of something
- in fear/terror/panic/alarm/fright
- fear/terror/panic/alarm that…
- to be filled with fear/terror/panic/alarm
- a feeling of fear/terror/panic/alarm
Extra ExamplesTopics Dangerb2, Feelingsb2- To her parents' alarm, she announced that she intended to travel the world.
- His face registered no alarm at all when I told him the news.
- Many people have expressed alarm at the plans.
- The head teacher's policies have provoked alarm among parents.
- The incident created serious public alarm.
- The news has been greeted with alarm.
- There has been considerable alarm about the new proposals.
- There is growing public alarm at this increase in crime.
- He loves spreading alarm and despondency.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- growing
- …
- cause
- create
- provoke
- …
- in alarm
- to somebody’s alarm
- with alarm
- …
- cause for alarm
Word Originlate Middle English (as an exclamation meaning ‘to arms!’): from Old French alarme, from Italian allarme, from all' arme! ‘to arms!’.
Idioms
alarm bells ring/are ringing
- if you say that alarm bells are ringing, you mean that people are starting to feel worried and to suspect that something is wrong
- The government’s proposal has set alarm bells ringing for people on low incomes.