Signification
Warning others of danger.
Contexte culturel
The 'Набат' was a specific bell in the Kremlin used only for emergencies. During the 1771 Plague Riot, the bell was rung to gather the crowd, and Catherine the Great later ordered its 'tongue' removed so it could never 'speak' again. Russian news headlines are very fond of this idiom. It is used to create a sense of 'emergency' and 'importance' around social issues, often to pressure the government into action. Classic authors like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy used this phrase to describe the internal 'alarm' of a character's conscience or a sudden social upheaval. The concept of 'beating' an alarm is universal in cultures that used drums for long-distance communication, making this idiom very intuitive for many learners.
Use the Perfective
In 90% of daily conversations, you will use 'забить тревогу' because you are talking about the moment you realized something was wrong.
Don't be a 'Drama Queen'
If you use this for small things, Russians will think you are being sarcastic or 'истеричный' (hysterical).
Signification
Warning others of danger.
Use the Perfective
In 90% of daily conversations, you will use 'забить тревогу' because you are talking about the moment you realized something was wrong.
Don't be a 'Drama Queen'
If you use this for small things, Russians will think you are being sarcastic or 'истеричный' (hysterical).
News Headlines
If you see this in a headline, expect the article to be about a serious social or environmental problem.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'бить' or 'забить'.
Когда ребёнок не пришёл вовремя, родители сразу ___ тревогу.
We use the perfective 'забили' because it was a sudden, completed action at a specific moment.
Which situation is appropriate for 'бить тревогу'?
In which case would you use this idiom?
This idiom is for serious, life-threatening, or large-scale dangers.
Match the subject with the reason they are 'beating the alarm'.
Match the following:
All these pairs are common collocations for this idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
- Почему ты такой нервный? - Мой проект проваливается, а начальник даже не ___!
The idiom is 'бить тревогу', meaning the boss isn't reacting to the danger.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesКогда ребёнок не пришёл вовремя, родители сразу ___ тревогу.
We use the perfective 'забили' because it was a sudden, completed action at a specific moment.
In which case would you use this idiom?
This idiom is for serious, life-threatening, or large-scale dangers.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All these pairs are common collocations for this idiom.
- Почему ты такой нервный? - Мой проект проваливается, а начальник даже не ___!
The idiom is 'бить тревогу', meaning the boss isn't reacting to the danger.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsNo, that sounds like you are trying to call a phone number named 'Alarm'. Always use 'бить'.
It is neutral-formal. You can use it with your boss or in a newspaper, but also with friends if the situation is serious.
'Бить' is the process of warning; 'забить' is the act of starting the warning.
Usually, we say 'сработала сигнализация' for a machine. 'Бить тревогу' is usually done by people.
Expressions liées
Забить в набат
synonymTo sound a heavy alarm bell.
Поднять шум
similarTo make a fuss.
Стоять на ушах
builds onTo be in an uproar.
Держать ухо востро
contrastTo keep one's eyes peeled.
