communication cord: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Low FrequencyTechnical / Historical (railways); UK-specific
Quick answer
What does “communication cord” mean?
A cord or chain inside a railway carriage which, when pulled, applies the train's brakes in an emergency.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cord or chain inside a railway carriage which, when pulled, applies the train's brakes in an emergency.
A specific safety device for emergency stopping on passenger trains; by extension, any emergency stop mechanism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is fundamentally British. In American English, the equivalent concept is typically referred to as the 'emergency brake cord', 'emergency stop cord', or more generically 'train emergency brake'.
Connotations
In British English, it carries connotations of vintage railway travel and a specific type of emergency action. In American English, no direct equivalent term carries the same cultural or historical weight.
Frequency
High frequency in relevant UK railway contexts (historical/safety discussions); extremely rare to non-existent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “communication cord” in a Sentence
VERB + communication cord: pull, activate, use, tamper with, locateVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “communication cord” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was fined for improperly communication-cording the train.
American English
- The passenger emergency-braked the train.
adverb
British English
- The train stopped communication-cord-edly.
American English
- The train stopped abruptly via the emergency brake.
adjective
British English
- The communication-cord mechanism was inspected.
American English
- The emergency-stop system was inspected.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Used in historical, engineering, or transportation studies texts discussing British railway safety.
Everyday
Used in UK when discussing train travel, emergencies, or in metaphorical sense. Rare in US.
Technical
Used precisely in railway engineering, safety documentation, and historical descriptions of train systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “communication cord”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “communication cord”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “communication cord”
- Confusing it with a communication device like an intercom. Using it to refer to modern train alarm buttons. Using the term in an American context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It activates the train's brakes, bringing it to an emergency stop, and typically alerts the driver/conductor.
Yes, in most jurisdictions it is an offense subject to fines, as it causes disruption and potential danger.
Most modern trains have replaced physical cords with push-button passenger emergency alarms, though the function is the same.
There is no direct one-word equivalent. Americans would say 'emergency brake cord', 'emergency stop cord', or simply 'the emergency brake' on a train.
A cord or chain inside a railway carriage which, when pulled, applies the train's brakes in an emergency.
Communication cord is usually technical / historical (railways); uk-specific in register.
Communication cord: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən ˌkɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən ˌkɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To pull the communication cord (figuratively: to initiate an emergency stop in a process or situation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COMMUniCATION CORD: Remember it's for COMMunicating an emergency to the driver/brakes via a CORD you pull.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A TRAIN JOURNEY: 'Pulling the communication cord' metaphorically means forcing an abrupt stop or intervention in a plan or process.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the term 'communication cord' primarily used?