raise the alarm

raise the alarm

1. Literally, to activate an alarm. I think I see smoke coming from the warehouse. Someone run upstairs and raise the alarm!
2. To alert other people about something dangerous, risky, or troublesome. A number of top economic advisors tried to raise the alarm before the economic crash, but no policy makers seemed to heed their warnings.
See also: alarm, raise
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • sound the alarm
  • upset
  • I don't want to alarm you, but
  • five
  • a false alarm
  • false alarm
  • go off
  • chase (someone or something) out of (some place)
  • chase out of some place Go to chase
  • fume at
References in classic literature
I ask for it; without it I should be tried in a court of justice because I did not raise the alarm. Thrust it into my mouth, my lord, thrust it in."
The gang were last seen fleeing from the address with a large quantity of cash after the woman was powerless to raise the alarm.
A police statement said the girl managed to raise the alarm and the man made off on foot in the direction of Queensferry.
His owner, a local woman, dialled 999 to raise the alarm, and the Redcar RNLI inshore lifeboat launched to rescue the dog within 10 minutes of the alarm being sounded.
Mr Roberts, a motorcycle enthusiast who was driving his car from the direction of Betws-y-Coed on Tuesday, says he "felt obliged" to raise the alarm after coming across the new grid which was recently installed as a replacement for an older version.
It is claimed he saw the man fall in but took 30 minutes to raise the alarm.
Police were called to Tranmere after the woman fled to a neighbour's house to raise the alarm. When police arrived they searched the area but the burglars had left.
Incident commander Paul Wattling, of Foleshill fire station, said: "It's a good job the occupant was in to raise the alarm. This could have been a potentially major fire, especially with the high winds and the fact it was on the tenth floor."
"The man swam ashore to an island before managing to reach other people to raise the alarm this morning."
The bells, which go on bags and purses, jingle and raise the alarm if someone tries to tamper with them.
Mr Rowlands dashed to raise the alarm as they started firing at the ship, shattering windows before motoring off.
Nigel Sowden, a fire service station commander, said: "It's very fortunate that this incident occurred at the time it did because usually a smoke alarm would be used to raise the alarm.
The youngster was the first to raise the alarm when a blaze broke out at his home in Hengoed Hall Close, Cefn Hengoed at around 9.30pm on Saturday.
Someone climbed down to help her while two other members of the group floated along the river to raise the alarm.
Three North-East mountaineers died on a Spanish peak despite a son's brave trek to raise the alarm.