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rude awakening

British

noun

an occurrence of being made to face an unpleasant fact

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Americans who thought spring break would offer rest and relaxation after a tough winter may be in for a rude awakening.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

It was a rude awakening for three-time winners Inter, whose stature and budget dwarf that of the Norwegians and who are heavy favourites to win Serie A this season.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

It's a rude awakening in a moment fraught with grave risk.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

The Eddie Murphy vehicle chronicles a hotshot advertising executive’s rude awakening after a merger leaves him with a new boss.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025

So anyone who thinks they can jump the fence now and suck down the guano-tainted blue-dyed water will have a rude awakening.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023