distress signals
Cries for help
Distress signals are communications indicating urgent need for help, especially in emergencies at sea or in the air.
The term covers visual signals (flares, flags), auditory signals (sirens, horns), and radio transmissions like SOS or Mayday.
Figuratively, any behavior suggesting someone is struggling can be called a distress signal: Her declining grades were distress signals we should have noticed.
- maydayRadio emergency signal
- flareSudden bright burst
- emergency flareBurning distress signal device
- coast guardMaritime safety and rescue service
- sosDistress signal, lowercased
air horn · Morse code · emergency beacon · strobe light · life jackets · search and rescue · lifebuoy · helicopter rescue · man overboard · lost at sea · lifeboats · whistles · disaster response · alarms · cry for help · cries for help · life rafts · rescue boat
- anti-piracynaval patrol, naval patrols, escort mission, hostage rescue, warships
- seafaringship, sailors, ships, sail, sailor
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- rescuerescue, rescue team, search and rescue, rescue dog, save
- signalssignaling, sign, waved, nodded, gestured
- sailing knowledgenavigation, knots, tides, currents, anchoring
distress signalsall-clear
Signal danger has passed
okay sign · safe and sound · green light · thumbs up · reassurance
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