high alert
25
3.6
- noun
:
alerta máxima
- In international news, Europe is on high alert tonight after Russian missiles aimed at Ukraine hit Poland instead.
What it was was that my entire system was still on high alert from that accident.
- What it was was that my entire system was still on high alert from that accident.
- Ladies and gentlemen, tonight in Washington, DC, the city is on high alert.
- Like, are you in a, in a, you know, sort of sympathetic nervous system state of, of high alert when that's going on?
- A lot of that on edge, vigilant monitoring, being careful about what you say and do, and just being on high alert.
Examples
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When a shelter resident receives such a phone call, the staff must immediately go on high alert.
Academic text (2010) -
Security services are on high alert here in Salamanca.
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The nation remains on high alert.
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-Every cop in the state is on high alert.
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We're on high alert here!
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Like many countries in Europe, the Security Services have already been operating on high alert.
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Proposed tax changes also have the industry on high alert during the election year.
Blog text (16) -
President just placed the armed forces on high alert.
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Residents of North Haddonfield are on high alert.
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The entire country is on high alert for possible security threats after recent events.
Synonyms
137
3.5
A state of being ready and watchful for possible danger
24
4.7
A strong warning that serious danger is coming and people must act now
How Alert
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'high' (above normal/intense) modifies 'alert' (a state of watchfulness), so the meaning 'heightened readiness' is transparently derived from the parts. This gradable adjective + noun pattern is common in English and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
High alert may come from old watchmen who stood in a high tower and shouted an alert when they saw danger. So, because someone high up gave a warning, high alert now means being extra 'ready' and watching for danger.