warning

Related to warning: waring

red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning

proverb A red sky at sunrise is a sign that bad weather will follow. The full phrase is "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning." I think we're going to get a bad storm today. Look at that sunrise—red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning.
See also: red, sky, warning

Scarborough warning

No warning. The phrase might refer to a surprise attack on the castle of Scarborough in the 16th century. Primarily heard in UK. Well, that thunderstorm came through with a Scarborough warning—it wasn't supposed to rain today at all.
See also: warning

trigger warning

A statement at the beginning of an article or video advising that its content might be upsetting, especially for trauma survivors. At least that graphic article came with a trigger warning.
See also: trigger, warning

warn (one) away (from someone or something)

To caution one to leave or not to come near someone or something. The first noun or pronoun can also come after "away." Police had to warn people away from the wild bear, as they kept wanting to get close enough to take a photo. The government put up a sign warning away any potential hikers. My parents tied to warn me away from him, but I just found him too irresistible.
See also: away, someone, warn

warn (one) off (from someone or something)

To caution someone to leave or not to come near something. The first noun or pronoun can also come after "off." The government put up signs warning off any potential hikers from the area. I held my shotgun across my chest as I warned the ruffians off from my land.
See also: off, someone, warn

warn about (someone or something)

1. To provide information in advance about the risks or dangers associated with someone or something. Analysts have been warning about a likely downturn in the economy for months now, so this dip in the market shouldn't come as a surprise. Police are warning about a number of escaped inmates who are at large in the area.
2. To caution someone about someone or something; to inform someone about the risks or dangers of someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "warn" and "about." My mom always warns me about the dangers of texting while driving. You need to warn him about Allison before he falls prey to her usual tricks.
See also: warn

warn against (something)

To caution (someone) not to do something that is dangerous or risky. A noun or pronoun can be used between "warn" and "against." My mother always warned me against hanging out with hoodlums like you, and now I know why. Doctors are warning against spending too much time outside during this week's heatwave.
See also: warn

warn of (someone or something)

1. To provide information in advance about some potential source of harm, danger, or trouble. Analysts have been warning of a likely downturn in the economy for months now, so this dip in the market shouldn't come as a surprise. Police are warning of a number of escaped inmates who are at large in the area.
2. To caution someone about something; to inform someone of the risks or dangers of something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "warn" and "of." My mom always warns me of the dangers of texting while driving. I wish someone has warned me of her kleptomania before we started dating.
See also: of, warn

warning bells start ringing

Some issue indicates that one should be concerned about a potentially greater problem or troubling situation. warning bells started ringing among the board members when sales continued to decline for the second straight If your date asks you to meet in a secluded place, warning bells should start ringing.
See also: bell, ring, start, warning

warning bells start to ring

Some issue indicates that one should be concerned about a potentially greater problem or troubling situation. warning bells started to ring among the board members when sales continued to decline for the second straight If your date asks you to meet in a secluded place, warning bells should start to ring.
See also: bell, ring, start, warning

warning shot

1. Literally, the firing of a weapon to signal an impending attack and/or to urge the opponent into surrender. We're almost at the shore—send up a warning shot before we land.
2. By extension, something used to signal future events and/or to urge people into a particular course of action. This petition is just a warning shot, saying that we'll be arrested if we keep playing our music so loud. I say, turn it up!
See also: shot, warning

warning shot across the bow(s)

A display of strength or aggression meant to serve as a warning to others. It refers to a warning shot from a ship, and can take the form of words or actions. Her sharp retort was a warning shot across the bow, letting her boyfriend know that she would not tolerate his bad attitude. The president is planning a military exercise along the border as a warning shot across the bows of her neighbors to the east.
See also: across, shot, warning
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a shot across the bows

or

a warning shot across the bows

FORMAL
COMMON A shot across the bows or a warning shot across the bows is something that someone does or says to show someone else that they are prepared to fight or compete with them, often if they continue to do what they are doing. `Bows' is pronounced with the same vowel sound as the word `how'. As a warning shot across the bows of their rivals, the company is already setting very low prices. This vote is a protest, a shot across the bows to the leadership, to show them that we're here. Note: You can also use the shorter expression a warning shot. The protest should act as a warning shot to the government. Note: People often use the verb fire before these expressions, and, less often, verbs such as deliver and send. Britain's agriculture minister departed from his prepared speech to fire a shot across Norway's bows. The electorate has sent a warning shot which our politicians must now take notice of. Note: The bows are the front part of a ship.
See also: across, bow, shot
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a warning shot across the bows

a statement or gesture intended to frighten someone into changing their course of action.
Literally, a shot fired in front of the bows of a ship is one which is not intended to hit it but to make it stop or alter course.
See also: across, bow, shot, warning
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning
  • red sky at night, shepherd's delight
  • shepherd
  • red sky at night, sailor's delight
  • red ink
  • (as) red as a rose
  • (as) red as blood
  • red as a cherry
  • (as) red as a cherry
  • ruby
References in periodicals archive
THE North East is braced for a weekend of wintry weather as the Met Office has issued fresh snow and ice warnings across three days.
Brace yourselves... winter's not over
The Met Office has issued 10 red warnings since it started using its 'impact-based' warning system in 2011.
What is a red weather warning and how bad must the weather be? The Met Office has issued red weather warnings for the first time in Scotland's Central Belt as the Beast from the East shuts down transport; The Met Office has issued red weather warnings for the first time in Scotland's Central Belt as the Beast from the East shuts down transport
The notification with The Nation said: 'In exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 of the cigarettes printing of warning ) Ordinance, 1979 (Lxx111 of 1979) the federal government is pleased to direct that following further amendments shall be made in Cigarettes printing of Warning) Rules, 2009.
Plan to increase size of pictorial warning on cigarette packets
Wierzbicka (1987: 177-178) states that the versatility of the verb 'warn' finds expression in a wide range of syntactic patterns which can be used to make a warning. She goes further to propose the following formula for the illocutionary force of warning: "I say this because I want to cause you to be able to cause that bad thing not to happen to you".
The Felicity and Discursive Structure of Warnings on Tobacco Advertisement in Nigeria
Early warnings are possible because earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves that move at different speeds.
Making seconds count
Mexico, for example, introduced pictorial warnings on cigarette packs with specific statements about the dangers of toxins in 2010.
Why Cigarette Warnings Don't Stop Smokers
Closely related to this failure is not assessing the impact of the Warning Letter citations on product currently on the market.
Warning letters & close-out letters: why does it take so long to get a close-out letter?
Jerry Brown's goals of improving the meaningfulness of warnings for the public and providing clarity for businesses required to warn under Prop 65.
California OEHHA adopts final amendments to Prop 65 Article 6: approves amended regulations on clear and reasonable warnings
Dr Moodie said:"The consensus was that individual cigarettes emblazoned with warnings would be off-putting for young people, those starting to smoke, and non-smokers.
Uni's visible cig alert study
Within every group, participants felt that warnings on individual cigarettes would potentially have an impact on themselves or others.
Health warnings on cigarette may reduce smoking
Twelve profit warnings were issued by listed companies based in the Midlands in the second quarter of 2019 - double the number seen in the same quarter in 2018, according to EY's latest Profit Warnings Report.
Number of profit warnings rises
Met Office meteorologist Bonnie Diamond said the heaviest rainfall was expected to be in the Teesside area, much of it overnight, with the weather warning extending into today.
Danger not over yet as more rain expected
Synopsis: Strategic warning is the process of long-range analysis for the purpose of alerting senior leaders to trending threats and opportunities that require action.
Strategic Warning Intelligence
The authors describe and evaluate strategic warning intelligence, the global spread of the warning function, and the nature and causes of the continued intellectual and institutional challenges of strategic warning, particularly in the US.
Strategic Warning Intelligence: History, Challenges, and Prospects