alarm bell
alarm bell — noun
1. a device that produces a loud ringing or buzzing sound to tell people there is d
a device that produces a loud ringing or buzzing sound to tell people there is danger, such as a fire, a break-in, or another emergency
Kenji heard the alarm bell and ran out of the building through the nearest exit.
collocation: alarm bell + sound/ring
Lin crawled out of bed when the burglar alarm bell started ringing downstairs.
pattern: [type of] alarm bell + ringing/sounding
Smoke from the stove triggered the alarm bell, but it was only steam.
When the fire alarm bell sounded, Andrew grabbed his bag and left the office calmly.
- siren
often refers to a louder, wailing sound on emergency vehicles; not typically a bell
- warning bell
more general; can refer to a bell used to signal any kind of alert, not just danger
- all clear
a signal that danger has passed, opposite of an alarm
文法句型
alarm bell + rings/sounds
alarm bell + warns
用法筆記
Often used in compounds such as fire alarm bell, burglar alarm bell, or school alarm bell.
常見錯誤
2. a piece of information or an event that shows a serious problem or dangerous sit
a piece of information or an event that shows a serious problem or dangerous situation may be developing
Rising prices on basic food items were an alarm bell for the local economy.
pattern: [something] + is/was an alarm bell for [someone/something]
Tamás saw the empty car park at midday as an alarm bell that something was wrong.
The increase in road accidents served as an alarm bell for the city council.
A thirty-percent drop in summer tourists was an alarm bell for the island's hotel owners.
- warning sign
more common in everyday language; alarm bell feels slightly more urgent
- red flag
informal; suggests something is wrong and needs attention immediately
- early warning
focuses on the timing — a sign before the problem becomes serious
- good omen
a sign that things are going well, opposite of a warning sign
文法句型
[something] + is/was an alarm bell + for [someone/something]
用法筆記
Commonly used with the verb 'be' or 'serve as'. The subject is usually an abstract noun (report, statistic, incident, result) rather than a person.
3. an experience that causes you to suddenly notice something is seriously wrong wh
an experience that causes you to suddenly notice something is seriously wrong when you had not realised it before
The empty cash box was an alarm bell — Fatima knew the shop had been robbed.
pattern: [something] + is/was an alarm bell — [realisation]
For Sana, the bank's refusal to lend more money was a real alarm bell.
Realising that the same customer appeared on six different bills was an alarm bell for Amira.
The same name on three invoices was an alarm bell for Ana — someone was stealing.
- wake-up call
stronger and more personal; implies you have been ignoring the problem until now
- reality check
focuses on correcting a mistaken belief rather than warning of danger
- false sense of security
a mistaken belief that everything is fine when it is not
文法句型
[something] + is/was a(n) [adjective] alarm bell + for [someone]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 refers to the sign itself (the object or event); sense 3 refers to the personal experience of noticing that sign and feeling the shock of realisation.
4. if an event, fact, or situation rings alarm bells, it causes worry because it su
if an event, fact, or situation rings alarm bells, it causes worry because it suggests something is wrong or dangerous
The doctor's test results rang alarm bells, so the hospital ordered more checks immediately.
fixed phrase: ring alarm bells (subject = event/situation)
When Zayd saw the leaking pipe, alarm bells rang and he called a plumber immediately.
fixed phrase: alarm bells ring (intransitive)
The employee's sudden silence during the meeting rang alarm bells for her manager.
The strange noise from the engine rang alarm bells, so Andrew pulled over to check.
- raise concerns
more formal and literal; less vivid than the metaphorical bell image
- trigger worry
directly states the emotional result without the bell metaphor
文法句型
[something] + rings alarm bells
alarm bells + ring
[something] + sets alarm bells ringing
用法筆記
Used in two fixed forms: 'alarm bells ring' (intransitive, the bells are the subject) and 'ring alarm bells' (transitive, the situation is the subject). The ringing is always metaphorical — no physical bell is involved.
常見錯誤
5. if a discovery, trend, or piece of evidence sets alarm bells ringing, it creates
if a discovery, trend, or piece of evidence sets alarm bells ringing, it creates a strong sense of urgency within an organisation or group and forces people to act fast before the problem gets worse
The sudden drop in sales set alarm bells ringing among the company directors.
fixed phrase: set alarm bells ringing among [group]
The chief engineer's report about cracks in the bridge support set alarm bells ringing at the city transport office.
fixed phrase: set alarm bells ringing at [institution]
A sharp increase in online scams has set alarm bells ringing at the police department.
The rise in early school leavers has set alarm bells ringing in the education department.
- raise the alarm
a person actively warns others; 'set alarm bells ringing' can be caused by a fact or event without a person choosing to warn
- sound the alarm
more urgent and deliberate; implies someone actively alerts others
文法句型
[something] + sets alarm bells ringing [among/at/in]
用法筆記
Stronger than sense 4: 'set alarm bells ringing' implies not just worry but active warning that motivates action. The subject is typically a trend, report, or discovery, and the prepositional object is a group or institution (among staff, at the ministry, in the industry).