break glass
Smash the pane
Break glass describes emergency measures meant to be used only when normal procedures fail, from the instruction on fire alarm cases: break glass in case of emergency.
A break-glass procedure bypasses standard protocols when urgent action is needed.
The phrase often modifies nouns: break-glass access, break-glass account.
In tech and security contexts, it grants emergency system access that's normally restricted.
- shatterFragment violently, suddenly
- smashBreak violently apart
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- alarmUrgent warning signal
fire · hammer · fragments · flying shards · sharp · splinter · window · mirror · crystal · transparent · brittle · fracture · crash · tinkle · shards · safety · axe · escape
- fire equipmentfire extinguisher, fire alarm, fire hose, fire hydrant, fire blanket
- fire alarm partssmoke detector, strobe light, bell, siren, horn
- desperate measureslast resort, desperate plea, desperation move, last ditch, last chance
break glasshandle with care
Instruction for delicate items
preserve · cushion · safeguard · shield · bubble wrap
break, glass, breaks, broke, broken, breaking, breaker, breakable, unbreakable