red alert

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)t

Noun

red alert (countable and uncountable, plural red alerts)

1. A warning that indicates an emergency situation.
   • 1944 August 7, Charles A. Lindbergh, The Wartime Journals of Charles A. Lindbergh, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, published 1970, page 898:

     Another red alert last night. Lasted only five minutes, Possibly just a friendly plane with its IFF turned off.

   • 1984, Nena, 99 Red Balloons (lyrics written by Kevin McAlea)

     Ninety-nine red balloons
     Floating in the summer sky
     Panic bells, it's red alert
     There's something here from somewhere else

2. A state of readiness to deal with such emergency situation.

Synonyms

• battle stations
• general quarters (US Navy)
• action stations (UK Navy)

See also

• alarums and excursions
• panic stations (UK)

Anagrams

• treadler