Meaning of alarums and excursions | Babel Free

Definitions

1. All the sounds and activities of preparations for war.
   plural, plural-only
2. Any frantic activity.
   broadly, idiomatic, plural, plural-only

Examples

“The French armies were not far off, and there were alarums and excursions all along the border.”

“He had been well aware ever since his coming to Hathelsborough of an atmosphere of intrigue and mystery; every development that occurred seemed to thicken it. . . . It puzzled him, being still a stranger to the habits and customs of these people, to see that life in Hathelsborough went on, amidst all these alarums and excursions.”

“The various alarums and excursions in The Rock that early evening did not dent attendance at these meetings very much […]”

CEFR level