wake up call
/weɪk ʌp kɔːl/An event or piece of information that alerts someone to a problem or urgent need for action.
The failed exam was a wake-up call for the student to study harder.
The poor result motivated the student to change their study habits.
The pandemic served as a wake-up call for many businesses to adopt remote work policies.
The crisis forced companies to rethink their traditional work models.
Often used metaphorically to describe a sudden realization of a serious issue.
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💡Pro Tip
Context matters
Use 'wake-up call' for situations where someone was unaware of a problem before a crisis or urgent event occurred.
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid literal interpretation
This phrase is almost always used metaphorically, not to describe actual waking up.
📖Word Origin
The phrase originates from the literal act of waking someone up to prevent them from missing an important event. The metaphorical use emerged in the mid-20th century, first in American English, to describe any urgent reminder.
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used in personal, professional, and societal contexts to describe a jarring event that forces a change in behavior or perspective. Often implies urgency or severity.