red alert
noun1
A warning that indicates an emergency situation.
- Another red alert last night. Lasted only five minutes, Possibly just a friendly plane with its IFF turned off.1944 August 7, Charles A. Lindbergh, The Wartime Journals of Charles A. Lindbergh, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, published 1970, page 898:
- Ninety-nine red balloons Floating in the summer sky Panic bells, it's red alert There's something here from somewhere else1984, Nena, 99 Red Balloons (lyrics written by Kevin McAlea)
2
A state of readiness to deal with such emergency situation.
- Synonyms
- battle stations, general quarters, action stations
- Related terms
- alarums and excursions, panic stations