in case of emergency
5
2.7
- idiom
:
en caso de emergencia
- In case of emergency, follow the exit signs and leave the building calmly.
Examples
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The list should include private organizations or nearby city/county services available (BLS, ALS, heavy rescue, etc.) and how to contact them in case of emergency.
Academic text (2007) -
"Right now, our number one priority is to make sure we are saving lives, that our search and rescue teams are going to be in place, that people are going to get the food, the water, the shelter they need in case of emergency, and that we respond as quickly as possible to get the economy back on track."
Blog text (4) -
For example, what should they do in case of emergency?
Academic text (2009) -
Contact person in case of emergency: family, friend, neighbor, or other.
Academic text (2007) -
In case of emergency, break glass, pull down handle.
Blog text (4) -
But don't worry, I will only use that door in case of emergency.
Blog text (11) -
Efforts should also be made to have wide exit doors in case of emergencies.
Academic text (2007) -
It would keep the bridge supplied in case of emergency.
Fiction book (1991) -
Persons to notify in case of emergency (other than closest relative)
Blog text (10) -
In case of emergency, call 911 or 1-800-273.
Blog text (7)
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'if a serious or urgent situation happens' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents: 'in' (within), 'case' (situation), 'of' (relation), and 'emergency' (urgent incident). This conditional/instructional pattern (e.g. 'in case of ...') is cross-linguistically common and appears frequently in signage and instructions, so a B1 learner who knows the component words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
In case of emergency uses case in the old sense of a 'situation' — imagine an emergency as a special box or case you open when something goes wrong. So the phrase tells you what to do 'if a serious problem happens'.