sos

Thân thiện

A ship sends an SOS signal from its radio room.

Definition

Noun: 1. An internationally recognized distress signal in radio code: A Morse code sequence (··· --- ···) representing the letters "SOS," used globally as a call for help in emergencies, especially in maritime and aviation contexts. 2. Any urgent call for help or desperate situation: By extension, any message, action, or situation indicating a severe crisis or an urgent need for assistance.

Usage Examples

• As a distress signal:
  • The sinking ship transmitted an SOS that was picked up by the coast guard.
  • Before the radio failed, the pilot managed to send out an SOS.
• As a metaphor for a desperate call:
  • She sent me an SOS text asking me to come pick her up from the party immediately.
  • The charity's latest campaign is an SOS for donations to help the flood victims.

Advanced Usage

• "to send out an SOS": To issue a call for emergency help, either literally via radio or figuratively.
  • The research team, stranded by the storm, had no way to send out an SOS.
• "an SOS call/message": A message specifically formatted as or likened to the distress signal.
  • We received an SOS message from the remote outpost.

Variants and Related Words

• Mayday: (n) Another internationally recognized voice procedure distress signal, used primarily in voice communications (from the French , "help me").
  • The captain declared "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" over the VHF radio.
• Distress signal: (n) The general term for any signal indicating grave and imminent danger.
  • Flares are a visual distress signal.

Synonyms

• Distress call: A call made in a situation of serious danger.
• Cry for help: An urgent request for assistance.
• Emergency signal: A signal indicating a state of emergency.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A cry in the wilderness: A desperate appeal for help that is ignored or goes unheard. (This is more literary and implies a lack of response, whereas an SOS is an active transmission).
  • His warnings about the financial crisis were like a cry in the wilderness until it was too late.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an internationally recognized distress signal in radio code

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sos