Collocation
wake-up call
An event that causes someone to realize they need to take action to change a situation, often because it was previously ignored or misunderstood. It can also literally mean a phone call or alarm to wake someone up at a specific time (especially in a hotel).
Definition
'wake-up call' is a common English collocation. An event that causes someone to realize they need to take action to change a situation, often because it was previously ignored or misunderstood. It can also literally mean a phone call or alarm to wake someone up at a specific time (especially in a hotel).
a + wake-up call
“The doctor's diagnosis was a wake-up call for him to start living a healthier life.”
Examples
- I asked the hotel reception for a wake-up call at 5:30 AM before my early flight.
- Losing her job was a massive wake-up call for her to manage her finances more carefully.
- The recent decline in sales served as a clear wake-up call for the company to innovate.
Show more examples
- Did you receive your wake-up call this morning, or did you manage to get up on your own?
- His poor performance review acted as a much-needed wake-up call to improve his work ethic.
- The extreme weather event was a wake-up call for many governments to address climate change more urgently.
- My alarm clock didn't go off, but thankfully the hotel's wake-up call saved me.
- For many, the pandemic was a profound wake-up call to re-evaluate what truly matters in life.
- Failing the first exam was a crucial wake-up call for the student to take his studies more seriously.
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More at B1 level
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