false alarm

American  

noun

1. a false report of a fire in progress to a fire department.

2. something that excites unfounded alarm or expectation.

   Rumors of an impending transit strike proved to be a false alarm.

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false alarm British  

noun

1. a needless alarm given in error or with intent to deceive

2. an occasion on which danger is perceived but fails to materialize

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false alarm Idioms  

1. A warning signal that is groundless, made either by mistake or as a deliberate deception. For example, The rumor that we were all going to get fired was just a false alarm, or Setting off a false alarm is a criminal offense. This expression, first recorded in 1579, today is often used for a report of a nonexistent fire.

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Etymology

Origin of false alarm

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

false alarm

A false alarm became part of the narrative when the Heat posted a link July 21 to a scheduled live stream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” to its YouTube channel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

No sound comes from the rubble and the professionals declare a false alarm.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Doubts about the current bull market have started to creep in following Friday’s tech stock wipeout, but this wouldn’t be the first false alarm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

Chronic pain, however, continues even after the injury has healed, creating a kind of false alarm that can last for weeks, months, or years.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 27, 2026

He couldn't make the Theorem work, and he realized that his Eureka moment had been a false alarm.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green