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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

false alarm

He also saw what caused the false alarm: The Spanish translation of how to distinguish expected acid reflux from possible heart attack symptoms was clumsy and confusing.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

As Salon reported at the time, experts said was a false alarm.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

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

Nothing was found, and the call was dismissed as a false alarm.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Dandelion grew nervous and twice gave a false alarm.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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