alarm bell
The term "alarm bell" can be used both literally, as a device that signals danger, and figuratively, to indicate a warning of potential issues.
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Definition
B1Safety
(literal)A device that makes a loud sound to alert people to danger or an emergency.
Example
- The fire alarm bell rang, prompting everyone to evacuate the building.
- An alarm bell sounded, warning the workers of a gas leak.
B2Communication
(figurative)A warning signal indicating a potential problem or threat.
Example
- The sudden drop in sales figures rang alarm bells for the company.
- Environmentalists have been sounding the alarm bell about climate change for years.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "alarm bell":
warning bellfire alarmring a bellfire alarm hornbell ringerfalse alarmdanger signalwarning signbell ropered alertradio alarmring someone's bellbell buttonburglar alarmred flagwake-up calldeath knelldistress signalhell's bellspanic buttonsanctus bellsafety callcode yellow