general quarters
Ship's emergency summons
General quarters is a naval command summoning all crew members to battle stations, typically announced over loudspeakers with an alarm.
The term extends to any state of full alert or emergency readiness: The whole office went to general quarters when the CEO announced layoffs.
Often abbreviated GQ.
- musterAssemble for inspection
- battle stationsAssigned combat positions
- action stationsEmergency readiness command
- stationFixed stopping point
- damage controlLimiting further harm
watertight doors · klaxon · sound the alarm · fire drills · rush · alarm · chain of command · combat readiness · all hands · scramble · GQ · red alert · deck · pipe down · command hierarchy · captain's orders · emergency communication · crisis management
- naval dutiesanchor watch, battle stations, damage control, guard duty, lookout duty
- naval drillsfire drills, battle drills, emergency drills, naval exercises, damage control
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
- alert levelsDEFCON, red alert, orange alert, yellow alert, elevated
- ship timewatch, first watch, morning watch, dog watch, midwatch
general quartersstand down
Withdraw from readiness
at ease · liberty · shore leave · all clear · port call
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