alarums and excursions

American  

plural noun

1. (especially in Elizabethan drama) military action, as representative fragments of a battle, sound effects of trumpets, or clash of arms: used as a stage direction.

2. any noisy, frantic, or disorganized activity.

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Etymology

Origin of alarums and excursions

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

After the alarums and excursions of the past, the remarkable thing is that Boyd and his team have accomplished all this with that rarest thing in theatreworld – a minimum of drama.

From The Guardian • Nov. 16, 2012

Performances of La Traviata and Manon in Tokyo and Yokohama were enthusiastically received despite some alarums and excursions involving understudies, and understudies of understudies.

From The Guardian • Oct. 1, 2010

I don't know about you but my favourite stage direction has always been "alarums and excursions".

From BBC • May 14, 2010

Thanks largely to Government business, all these alarums and excursions have not yet affected Aniline's production or profits.

From Time Magazine Archive

Almost forgotten by the world below, which had its own cares, its alarums and excursions, its strivings and aims, they lived for one another.

From The Long Night by Weyman, Stanley John