sound the alarm

IPA/sˈaʊnd ðɪ ɐlˈɑːm/
IPA/sˈaʊnd ðɪ ɐlˈɑːɹm/

sound the alarm — 慣用語

1. to draw attention to danger or to a serious problem by ringing a bell, activatin

1.慣用語B2
釋義

發出警報

以聲響或公開呼籲警告危險

to draw attention to danger or to a serious problem by ringing a bell, activating a siren, shouting, or speaking out publicly

例句

Ilan sounded the alarm when he saw smoke rising from the school kitchen.

Ilan 看到學校廚房冒出濃煙時，立刻發出警報。

sound the alarm + when-clause for a physical danger

The head nurse sounded the alarm about the shortage of clean bandages.

護理長就乾淨繃帶短缺的問題發出警報。

sound the alarm about + [problem]

同義詞
  • raise the alarm

    very similar but leans more toward initiating a general alert; slightly more British usage

  • alert

    more general — can be done privately to one person, while 'sound the alarm' is always public

  • warn

    the broadest term; can be private or public, urgent or casual — lacks the urgency of 'sound the alarm'

文法句型

sound the alarm

sound the alarm about + noun phrase

用法筆記

Used both for physical alarms (bells, sirens) and for figurative public warnings about problems. Often followed by 'about' + the danger or problem being warned about.

常見錯誤

❌She sounded alarm when she saw the fire.
✅She sounded the alarm when she saw the fire.
💡the definite article 'the' is always required.
❌He alarmed everyone about the gas leak.
✅He sounded the alarm about the gas leak.
💡'alarm' as a verb means to frighten, not to warn.