pull the alarm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pull the alarm" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to someone activating an alarm, typically to summon help in an emergency. For example, "Billy knew he had to act quickly, so he pulled the alarm to alert the authorities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

They are ready for someone, something, to pull the alarm so that they can step it up.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We ask that if any tellers see either one of these men walk into their bank that they pull the alarm right away so that it gives the police a chance to respond," he said.

The New York Times

Generally speaking, affected countries prefer that WHO not pull the alarm — at least at the outset of an epidemic — for fear of the economic repercussions for travel, tourism and trade.

The Washington Post

Or, if you want to avoid an arson charge while still achieving the same effect, just pull the alarm.

Vice

Don't pull the alarm signal as it will get the train stuck for good in that tunnel and you may eventually get fined.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It wrote that "no one had any interest, for different reasons, in pulling the alarm.

The New York Times

Officials later said a student had pulled the alarm after mistakenly thinking she smelled smoke.

The New York Times

Since the solenoid pulls its plunger when it is powered through two control connectors, the wire that ties the plunger with the alarm bar pulls the alarm bar and disables the alarm whenever the solenoid is powered on.

Cornell University

In halting English, he explained that he had pulled the alarm thinking that it controlled the traffic signal to cross the street.

The New York Times

When patrolman Richard Trice broke the glass and pulled the alarm on the red Gamewell Peerless Herculite Fire Box, he sent a code etched on narrow paper streaming from a ticker-tape machine at the District's fire headquarters building.

The Washington Post

To deter pranksters from pulling the alarm handles, plastic covers, costing about $100 each, were placed on each alarm in the university's 172 residence halls on the New Brunswick campus.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pull the alarm" when referring to a manual activation of a physical alarm system, especially in emergencies. Ensure the context clearly indicates an immediate need for attention or intervention.

Common error

Avoid using "pull the alarm" in situations where a general warning or alert is needed without a specific physical alarm system. Instead, opt for phrases like "raise the alert" or "issue a warning" when the context doesn't involve physically activating an alarm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pull the alarm" functions as an imperative instruction or a descriptive statement of an action. It typically directs or describes the act of activating an alarm, usually in response to an emergency. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pull the alarm" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase that describes the action of activating an alarm, typically in an emergency. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English. Its usage is most common in news and media, with less frequent appearances in wikis and academic contexts. While the phrase is clear and direct, considering alternatives like "sound the alarm" or "activate the alert" can provide nuanced meaning depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sound the alarm

Focuses on the act of activating the alarm to create noise, shifting from physical action to auditory consequence.

trigger the alarm

Highlights the causation of the alarm's activation, emphasizing the mechanism rather than the action.

set off the alarm

Similar to "trigger the alarm", this emphasizes the start of the alarm's function.

activate the alert

Uses a more general term for warning, suitable for various types of alerts beyond physical alarms.

raise the alert

Emphasizes the act of increasing the level of awareness or readiness, often in a security context.

initiate the warning

A formal way to express starting an alert, useful in official or technical contexts.

press the emergency button

Specific to systems with a button, indicating immediate action in critical situations.

dispatch emergency services

Highlights the outcome of raising the alarm, which is to summon assistance.

signal for help

A broader action indicating the need for assistance, not necessarily involving an alarm.

call for assistance

Directly requests help, implying a situation requiring immediate support.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "pull the alarm"?

Use "pull the alarm" when describing the physical action of activating an alarm system, especially in response to an emergency or when immediate attention is required. It's typically used in situations where manual intervention is needed to trigger an alert.

What are some alternatives to "pull the alarm"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "pull the alarm" include "sound the alarm", "trigger the alarm", or "activate the alert". These options can be used when you want to convey a similar meaning but with slightly different nuances.

Is "pull the alarm" a formal or informal expression?

"Pull the alarm" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or technical settings, you might prefer more precise language like "activate the alarm system".

Can "pull the alarm" be used in a metaphorical sense?

While primarily used in a literal sense to describe activating an alarm, "pull the alarm" can be used metaphorically to describe taking drastic action to signal a problem or emergency. For example, someone might "pull the alarm" on a failing project by escalating concerns to higher management.