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alarm bell

noun

Definition of alarm bell

: a bell that sounds when an alarm is activated —often used figuratively
  • … the Mexican swine flu outbreak that is sounding alarm bells [=causing people to become worried or alarmed] across the world …
  • —Andres Oppenheimer,  Miami Herald,  30 Apr. 2009
  • The spike in oil prices has set off alarm bells across the automobile industry.

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First Known Use of alarm bell

1548

in the meaning defined above

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