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Meaning & use

cry of alarm

phrase·Advancedliterary

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UK/ˌkraɪ əv əˈlɑːm/
US/ˌkraɪ əv əˈlɑːrm/

Meanings

  1. phrasecountableliterary

    A sudden loud shout or sound made because someone feels fear or sudden worry.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a cry of alarm' or 'cries of alarm' for more than one.

    Patterns

    • a cry of alarm from someone
    • let out a cry of alarm
    • give a cry of alarm

    She let out a cry of alarm when the branch cracked above her head.

    A cry of alarm came from the back of the hall as the lights went out.

    He heard cries of alarm from the street below and ran to the window.

  2. phrasecountablefigurative

    A warning that people express loudly and urgently because they think danger is near.

    Grammar: Often used with verbs like 'raise' or 'sound' when the warning is shared by a group.

    Patterns

    • raise a cry of alarm
    • a cry of alarm about something
    • someone's cry of alarm

    Doctors raised a cry of alarm about the shortage of nurses.

    Her report was a cry of alarm about the state of the river.

    The article became a cry of alarm that many readers shared.

Common combinations

let out a cry of alarm
The child let out a cry of alarm when the dog barked.
a cry of alarm from someone
There was a cry of alarm from the passengers at the back.
raise a cry of alarm
Parents raised a cry of alarm over the new school rules.
a cry of alarm went up
A cry of alarm went up when the fire alarm sounded.
a sudden cry of alarm
A sudden cry of alarm broke the silence of the night.

Synonyms and how they differ

shout of alarm
Very close in meaning, but 'shout' suggests a louder, more forceful voice than 'cry'.
warning cry
Focuses on the purpose of warning others rather than on the speaker's own fear.
scream
A scream is usually longer and higher, and it often shows terror rather than simple alarm.

Word family

alarmed adjective
Feeling worried that something bad may happen.
alarming adjective
Frightening or worrying in a way that makes people react.
alarm noun
A warning sound or a feeling of sudden fear.
alarmingly adverb
In a way that causes worry, often before an adjective.

Commonly confused: cry of alarm or cry for help? cry of alarm or false alarm?

cry of alarm vs cry for help

This means a request for rescue or support, while 'cry of alarm' is a sound caused by sudden fear. A cry of alarm may lead to a cry for help, but they describe different things.

cry of alarm vs false alarm

A false alarm is a warning that turns out to be unnecessary; a cry of alarm is the actual shout or sound people make.

Practice

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