fire drill

noun

a practice drill for a company of firefighters, the crew of a ship, etc., to train them in their duties in case of fire.
a drill for pupils in a school, employees in a factory, etc., to train them in the manner of exit to be followed in case of fire.

fire drill

First recorded in 1890–95

A few minutes after Christie finished up, it looked like there had been a fire drill in the ballroom.

Rather, he was in “fire drill mode” preparing his slate of TV shows.

They must have worked, because later generations remember being made to practice a fire drill with them.

"Ah, my good fire-drill; I have forgotten it," he exclaimed, remembering that he had left it behind.

The old grain passes, the new grain sprouts, the round of woods for the fire-drill is ended in one year.

Ordinarily the girls of Central High were perfect in fire drill.

A little while after, Fire-drill's son and the wolf went away together.

We feverishly awaited the threatened alarm and the fire drill that was to follow.

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