emergency exits

Panic bar doors

Emergency exits are doors or routes in buildings, vehicles, and aircraft designated for rapid evacuation during fires, accidents, or other dangerous situations.

They are marked with illuminated signs and must remain unobstructed by law.

The phrase sometimes extends metaphorically to any quick way out of an uncomfortable situation: She was already scanning for emergency exits when he mentioned meeting his parents.

Opposites
access function

emergency exitsmain entrance

Principal point of entry

front door · service entrance · main gate · loading dock · reception area

usage conditions

emergency exitsgeneral admission

public entrance

safety function

emergency exitsdead ends

Routes with no exit

locked doors · barricades · trap doors · no exit · cul-de-sac

Family

exit, emerge, emergency, exits, emerging, exiting, exited, emergencies, emerged

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G