warning signs
Early trouble signals
Warning signs are indicators that something is wrong or about to go wrong.
They can be physical markers alerting to danger: The warning signs said the bridge was out ahead.
More often they're symptoms or behaviors signaling trouble: In hindsight, the warning signs of his addiction were obvious.
Red flags and warning signs overlap in meaning, though warning signs emphasizes early detection.
- signalsConveyed indications
- indicatorsSigns that reveal status
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- red flagIndicator of danger
- hazardSource of potential harm
harbinger · bad omen · alert · writing on the wall · canary · canary in the coal mine · tip of the iceberg · wake up call · foreshadowing · notification · omen · symptoms · portent · notice · markers · gut feeling · premonition · alarm
- Deception Cluestelltale signs, red flags, shifty eyes, stammering, fidgeting
- lifeguardinglifeguard, lifeguard stand, rescue tube, rescue buoy, CPR
- red flagsred flags, caution, alarm, alert, beware
- safety precautionsfirst aid kit, life jacket, safety harness, fire extinguisher, emergency exit
- traffic signsstop signs, yield signs, speed limit signs, speed limit, no entry
- visual symbolspictograms, pictographs, symbols, glyphs, ideograms
warning signsconfirmation
Establishing something as true
proof · hard evidence · certainty · smoking gun · documentation
sign, warn, warning, warned, warns, warnings, forewarning, forewarned, unwarned