Sirens

1. In classical mythology , evil creatures who lived on a rocky island, singing in beautiful voices in an effort to lure sailors to shipwreck and death. Odysseus ordered his crew to plug their ears to escape the Sirens' fatal song.

Notes

Figuratively, a “siren” is a beautiful or tempting woman; a “siren song” is any irresistible distraction.

Example Sentences

At the time, sirens were not yet standard in tornado country.

From The Daily Beast

After what remains the largest disaster in Toledo history, the city installed sirens.

From The Daily Beast

“I also impressed upon her, you need to go sirens blazing and door-kicking and stop this,” the sales rep said.

From The Daily Beast

Still more keys engage an array of other sounds, from snare drums and cymbals to awooga horns and sirens.

From The Daily Beast

Then the first sirens of that long day sounded in the distance.

From The Daily Beast

And owls shall answer one another there, in the houses thereof, and sirens in the temples of pleasure.

From Project Gutenberg

The distant puffing of fire engines, the shrieking of river sirens, accentuate my loneliness.

From Project Gutenberg

Ato ordered “Battle-Stations” and sirens sounded all over the ship.

From Project Gutenberg

He listened to the song of the Sirens; yet he glided by without being seduced to their fatal shore.

From Project Gutenberg

In one of the seas where Ulysses sailed was an island known as the Isle of the Sirens.

From Project Gutenberg