false alarm
Unwarranted emergency response
A false alarm is a warning or alert that turns out to be groundless—the danger or emergency it signaled never existed or never materialized.
Fire alarms, security systems, and smoke detectors can all produce false alarms, triggering responses to nonexistent threats.
The phrase extends beyond literal alarms: The pregnancy scare was a false alarm.
Any situation where anticipated trouble fails to appear may be called a false alarm.
Disproportionate emotional response
- scareCause sudden fright
- frightSudden intense fear
- startleFrighten suddenly
- hysteriaUncontrollable emotional excess
adrenaline · heart racing · anxiety · fear · dread · apprehension · fluster · chaos
Wailing alert device
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- sensorInput-detecting device
- detectorDevice that senses
- smoke detectorCombustion particle sensor
motion sensor · security system · tripwire · glitch · malfunction · sensitivity · faulty · technical error
Incorrect understanding of meaning
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
- errorFault in communication
oversight · misreading · mix-up · confusion · blunder · misstep · wrong call · jumped to conclusions
Audible emotional breath
- all-clearSignal danger has passed
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- calmFree from agitation
- easeLack of strain
thank goodness · close call · stand down · relaxation · composure · reprieve · peace of mind · gratitude
overreaction
Disproportionate emotional response
hysteria · adrenaline · heart racing · anxiety · fear · dread · apprehension · fluster · chaos · commotion
siren
Wailing alert device
smoke detector · motion sensor · security system · tripwire · glitch · malfunction · sensitivity · faulty · technical error · misfire
misinterpretation
Incorrect understanding of meaning
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
error · oversight · misreading · mix-up · confusion · blunder · misstep · wrong call · jumped to conclusions · mistaken identity
sigh
Audible emotional breath
- all-clearSignal danger has passed
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- calmFree from agitation
ease · thank goodness · close call · stand down · relaxation · composure · reprieve · peace of mind · gratitude
- security alarmspanic buttons, motion sensors, motion sensor, door sensor, window sensor
- speech crimesdefamation, libel, slander, hate speech, incitement
- transit violationsfare evasion, turnstile jumping, ticket fraud
- Campus Incidentsvandalism, bullying, fighting, theft, drug possession
- false positivestype I error, misdiagnosis, overdiagnosis
- fire alarmssmoke detector, heat detector, fire bell, heat sensor, strobe light
false, alarm, falsehood, falsify, falseness, falsification, falsifying, falsehoods, falsifier