on the alert
Ready for anything
On the alert means watchful and ready to respond to danger or opportunity.
Someone on the alert maintains heightened awareness, prepared to act quickly: Security guards remained on the alert throughout the night.
The phrase often follows a warning: Be on the alert for suspicious activity.
- awareHaving knowledge of
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- keeping watchMaintaining vigilant observation
- tenseStrained or nervous
- vigilantKeenly aware of danger
watch · anticipating · focused · observant · eagle eye · on one's toes · stay sharp · ready · prepared · guard duty · wide-awake · sharp-eyed · scanning · perked · mindful · proactive · perceptive · listening
on the alertoblivious
Lacking any awareness
unaware · inattentive · heedless · zoned out · spaced out
on the alertunprepared
Lacking readiness beforehand
off guard · relaxed · complacent · at ease · unready
alert, the, attentive, watchful, alertness, alerted, alerting, alerts