warning bells start to ring

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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • alarm bells start to ring
  • warning bells start ringing
  • alarm bells start ringing
  • hang (one) out to dry
  • hang out to dry
  • hang somebody out to dry
  • hang someone out to dry
  • reconcile (oneself) to (something)
  • reconcile oneself to
  • set off alarm bells
References in periodicals archive
If I meet a man and he says this in the early stages of our relationship, the warning bells start to ring and he's dumped.