alarm bell
alarm bell — 名詞
1. a device that produces a loud ringing or buzzing sound to tell people there is d
警鈴；警報器
發出響聲警告危險的裝置
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.
Kenji 聽到警鈴聲後，從最近的出口跑出了大樓。
collocation: alarm bell + sound/ring
Lin crawled out of bed when the burglar alarm bell started ringing downstairs.
Lin 聽到樓下傳來防盜警鈴聲，趕緊爬下床查看。
pattern: [type of] alarm bell + ringing/sounding
Smoke from the stove triggered the alarm bell, but it was only steam.
爐子的煙霧觸發了警鈴，但其實只是蒸氣。
When the fire alarm bell sounded, Andrew grabbed his bag and left the office calmly.
當火災警鈴響起時，Andrew 拿起包包冷靜地離開了辦公室。
- 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
警訊；預警
顯示可能出現問題的跡象
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.
基本糧食價格上漲對當地經濟來說是一個警訊。
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.
Tamás 看到中午空蕩蕩的停車場後，覺得這是一個出問題的警訊。
The increase in road accidents served as an alarm bell for the city council.
交通事故的增加對市議會來說是一個警訊。
A thirty-percent drop in summer tourists was an alarm bell for the island's hotel owners.
夏季遊客減少百分之三十，對該島的旅館業者來說是一個警訊。
- 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
警覺；醒悟
突然意識到問題的時刻
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.
空的收銀盒讓 Fatima 心生警覺——店裡遭小偷了。
pattern: [something] + is/was an alarm bell — [realisation]
For Sana, the bank's refusal to lend more money was a real alarm bell.
對 Sana 來說，銀行拒絕提供更多貸款是一個當頭警醒。
Realising that the same customer appeared on six different bills was an alarm bell for Amira.
Amira 發現同一個客戶的名字出現在六張不同的帳單上，不禁心生警覺。
The same name on three invoices was an alarm bell for Ana — someone was stealing.
同一名字出現在三張發票上，Ana 頓時警覺——有人在偷錢。
- 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
敲響警鐘
因顯示問題而引發擔憂
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.
醫生的檢查結果敲響了警鐘，醫院立即要求進行更多檢測。
fixed phrase: ring alarm bells (subject = event/situation)
When Zayd saw the leaking pipe, alarm bells rang and he called a plumber immediately.
Zayd 看到水管漏水時腦中警鐘大作，於是打電話叫了水電工。
fixed phrase: alarm bells ring (intransitive)
The employee's sudden silence during the meeting rang alarm bells for her manager.
會議中那名員工突然沉默不語，讓她的主管敲響了警鐘。
The strange noise from the engine rang alarm bells, so Andrew pulled over to check.
引擎傳來奇怪的聲音敲響了警鐘，Andrew 於是靠邊停車檢查。
- 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
拉響警報
提醒人們注意問題以採取行動
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.
銷售額突然下滑在公司董事之間拉響了警報。
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.
總工程師關於橋樑支架出現裂縫的報告，在市交通局內拉響了警報。
fixed phrase: set alarm bells ringing at [institution]
A sharp increase in online scams has set alarm bells ringing at the police department.
網路詐騙案件急遽增加，已在警局內拉響了警報。
The rise in early school leavers has set alarm bells ringing in the education department.
過早離校的人數增加，已在教育部門內拉響了警報。
- 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).