fire drill

noun

1. a practice drill for a company of firefighters, the crew of a ship, etc., to train them in their duties in case of fire.
2. a drill for pupils in a school, employees in a factory, etc., to train them in the manner of exit to be followed in case of fire.

fire drill

noun

1. a rehearsal of duties or escape procedures to be followed in case of fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of fire drill¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

During corporate fire drills, when his colleagues are freaking out, he shows calm and equanimity.

From Outside Online

In recent months, Beijing has ramped up live fire drills and naval and air sorties around Taiwan.

From Time

A frightening fire drill forced a teen to see her school through a disabled friend’s eyes.

From Washington Post

John Fitzgerald, whose son Danny Fitzgerald has Down syndrome and attends Wootton, describes learning about the fire drill route and the need to address other access issues within the county’s schools from Contreras.

From Washington Post

As Catherine Contreras tells it, a fire drill changed how she saw her school.

From Washington Post

A few minutes after Christie finished up, it looked like there had been a fire drill in the ballroom.

From The Daily Beast

Rather, he was in “fire drill mode” preparing his slate of TV shows.

From The Daily Beast

They must have worked, because later generations remember being made to practice a fire drill with them.

From The Daily Beast

"Ah, my good fire-drill; I have forgotten it," he exclaimed, remembering that he had left it behind.

From Project Gutenberg

The old grain passes, the new grain sprouts, the round of woods for the fire-drill is ended in one year.

From Project Gutenberg

Ordinarily the girls of Central High were perfect in fire drill.

From Project Gutenberg

A little while after, Fire-drill's son and the wolf went away together.

From Project Gutenberg

We feverishly awaited the threatened alarm and the fire drill that was to follow.

From Project Gutenberg