wake-up call

British  

noun

1. a telephone call that wakes a person from sleep

2. an event that alerts people to a danger or difficulty

---

wake-up call Idioms  

1. A portentous event, report, or situation that brings an issue to immediate attention. For example, The rise in unemployment has given a wake-up call to state governments, or The success of the online subscription is a wake-up call to publishers. This metaphoric term originated in the second half of the 1900s for a telephone call arranged in advance to awaken a sleeper, especially in a hotel. Its figurative use dates from about 1990.

---

Example Sentences

But I’d encourage you to use this discovery as motivation — a wake-up call that jolts you into action.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

For private-equity investors, however, the actions in Oregon and California are a wake-up call, showing that the new laws can’t be ignored, said John Saran, a partner at law firm Holland & Knight.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

“I think that experience really was a wake-up call to me,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

But other countries see the war as a wake-up call.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Pretend to be groggy when Mom knocks with official wake-up call.

From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli