What started with a strange smell quickly turned...

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HiIs there any word like "all-out" or "all-road" emergency? Or something like this? What started with a strange smell quickly turned into an all-load/all-out/all road??? emergency.Thanks,Tom

Sam1947 · Accepted Answer

I'd say "full blown emergency." I don't know of any description of an emergency that is just used for car breakdowns on the road, which is what I'm inferring you are describing in this sentence.

e.g., you might say, "It started with our noticing a strange smell that had the scent of burning oil, and then turned into a full blown road emergency when the car started making a knocking sound and vibrating."

You can use "full blown" with any emergency, not just cars. e.g., "It started with his complaining of a headache and turned into a full blown emergency when he grasped his head and fell to the floor."

Krish_na · Answer

is this something you overheard, then "all out emeregency" makes more sense

Mr. Tom · Answer

Is "all-out emergency" natural English? What is the meaning of "all-out" here?

Thanks,

Tom

Sam1947 · Answer

All-out emergency is used in some situations, but usually not in the situation you describe above, which involves just someone's personal vehicle and maybe a couple of friends.

Examples of when you might use all-out emergency correctly are:

The govenor described the situation as an all-out emergency and described the plan for getting emergency supplies to the affected area.

Thye City declared an all-out emergency when power to the entire city failed due to a massive failure of the power grid.

An all-out emergency is usually something involving a wide area and many people, and is usually used in terms of a government or government official declaring it. "State of emergency" is also used in these situations. Governors of states in the U.S. can declare a state of emergency that will garner federal aid in crisis situations.

Avangi · Answer

Mr. TomWhat started with a strange smell quickly turned into an all-load/all-out/all road??? emergency.

"All out" could reference the pipe organ image, "pull out all the stops," or it could suggest that all available resources should be employed - like a three-alarm fire.
If you're alone, and your car is on fire, and you can't release your seat belt; from your point of view the country might as well be under neuclear attack. You need all the help you can get, and in a hurry!
I think the expression calls for maximum effort, on what ever regional level is appropriate.

I agree that "full-blown" works equally well.

- A.

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