panic stations

plural noun

1. informal.
   a state of alarm; panicky reaction

   when he realized he'd lost the keys it was panic stations

Example Sentences

England was at panic stations and fortunate that Samoa’s next two tries were ruled out by the barest of margins.

From Washington Times

All of a sudden, it was panic stations.

From BBC

“It was panic stations . . . Steve was kicking doors down,” Scott laughed of his early-morning search for his clubs.

From Seattle Times

“That instantly puts it into a different zone. Within Scientology, this becomes panic stations, high alert.”

From Los Angeles Times

Thiago Silva headed wide when gloriously placed and Arsenal looked to be entering panic stations when Marí was late into a challenge on Mason Mount, leaving another substitute, Jorginho, to address a penalty in the first of five added minutes.

From The Guardian