clarion call
4
6.8
- noun
- /ˈklær.i.ən kɔl/
- Literature
:
llamado claro
- The Dinesh D'Souza incident is surely a clarion call for all of us to examine ourselves.
- a clarion call for reform
- issued a clarion call
There's a, a Clarion call that's taking place here.
- There's a, a Clarion call that's taking place here.
- It was really a Clarion call putting out a harbinger for the rest of America.
Examples
-
Two decades ago, archaeologists in the United States awoke to a clarion call about the rapid destruction of the nation's cultural resources.
Academic text (1998) -
In a generation, we may remember the clarion call to reverse climate change as a critical turning point in U.S. foreign policy.
Academic text (2000) -
Mr. Parker had always expected that one day he would hear once more the clarion call of duty.
-
At the Republican National Convention, he sounded the clarion call for a cultural war for the "soul of America."
Blog text (19) -
President Sullivan's departure is a clarion call from the Board of Visitors that business as usual is not acceptable anymore.
Blog text (10) -
Matt Welch is entirely correct, and the clarion call should be sounded even more loudly.
Blog text (16) -
The Republican clarion call for freeing markets from needless regulation certainly energized the financial sector.
Blog text (16) -
His 1973 articles stand as landmarks in documenting women's status and sounded a clarion call for action.
Academic text (2006) -
In 2009, nearly 20 years after the first startup, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune issued an editorial clarion call headlined "Reform is Overdue for Charter Schools."
Academic text (2013) -
Her speech was a clarion call for the community to unite and fight against climate change.
Synonyms
969
3.2
A request asking people to do something or be present
12
5.6
A short word or phrase that encourages people to unite and act for a cause
10
8.4
Strong words that urge someone to do something
9
5.9
A strong appeal for people to take action for a cause
4
8.6
A loud, clear call that makes people pay attention
Antonyms
How Urgent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun 'clarion' conveys a clear, loud or trumpet-like call, so when combined with 'call' the meaning 'a strong, clear call to action' is directly compositional. Although 'clarion' is somewhat literary/rare, if a learner knows both constituents the overall sense is predictable and follows a standard modifier+noun pattern.
Etymology
Clarion call comes from an old trumpet called a 'clarion' that made a very clear, loud sound to gather soldiers or people. Because the sound could be heard above other noise and made people come, today a clarion call means 'a strong and clear request for people to act'.