wake-up call (/ˈweɪk ʌp kɔːl/)
phrase · Intermediate · Greetings & Phrases
🔊 /ˈweɪk ʌp kɔːl/
Meaning
Meaning: a warning to act
An event that shocks someone into realising they must change. It also literally means a phone call to wake you.
Examples
🗣 His illness was a wake-up call to live more healthily.
Etymology
From the hotel service of a phone call to wake a guest, later used figuratively.
How & Where It’s Used
Common figuratively for a warning that prompts change.
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Tags: idiom