action stations

A state of intense alertness or readiness for a great amount of impending action. Often said as an order to become ready or prepared for such action. We were all at action stations when we found out the CEO of the company was coming to visit our branch. Action stations, everyone! We're going to get slammed for lunch now that the football game has finished. When you're a paramedic, you're pretty much always at action stations.

action stations

an order or warning to prepare for action.

Originally, this was an order to naval personnel to go to their allocated positions ready to engage the enemy.

ˈaction stations

(spoken, especially British English) used as an order to get ready for action: Action stations! There’s a bus full of tourists arriving in five minutes.