air alert
- noun
:
alerta aérea
- Air alerts occurred daily and often several times a day, the primary Japanese target being the airfield and supporting areas.
Examples
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"An hour later, with no letters censored and with Ben and his slowly gathering tentmates in bed but still talking religion, the air alert siren pierced the air once again."
Fiction book (1990) -
Three more times that night, air alerts sounded.
Fiction book (1990) -
No, I'll take my chances in my tent for another night. "You think we'll have another air alert tonight?"
Fiction book (1990) -
We do," Ben responded, "if you don't mind ants or rats or air alerts or itchy trigger fingers by the men on guard.
Fiction book (1990) -
During the war, citizens were always on edge during an air alert, waiting for news of incoming attacks.
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The local government issued an air alert every time enemy planes were spotted approaching the city.
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People were instructed to take cover immediately when the air alert siren began to sound.
Synonyms
297
2.8
A warning that something dangerous or important may happen
Antonyms
31
7.2
A feeling of being too satisfied with yourself that makes you ignore possible problems
How Alert
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'air' (relating to aviation or aircraft) modifies 'alert' (a warning or state of readiness), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a warning/state concerning aircraft or aerial operations. The precise military nuance (combat aircraft airborne and ready) is domain-specific but is a predictable extension of the combined meanings.
Etymology
Air alert comes from the image of loud sirens and people running to shelters because enemy planes might come from the sky, with air meaning the sky and alert meaning a 'warning'. So, air alert means a period when people prepare for a possible air attack.