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Wake up call - 英语词汇详解 (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：reality check (Wake up call)
Wake up call
/ˈweɪk ʌp kɔːl/
n.
An event or piece of information that makes you realize a serious problem and need to change.
reality check
➕
/riˈæləti tʃek/
n.
An incident or information that causes a sudden awareness of a serious problem or the need for change.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Compound: 'wake up' (alert) + 'call'. A sudden realization of a problem.
💡 Mnemonic
Picture a ringing phone that jolts you awake: 'Wake up! This call is a warning!'
📖 Example
The doctor said my high blood pressure was a wake-up call to start eating healthier and exercising regularly.
The doctor said my high blood pressure was a wake-up call to start eating healthier and exercising regularly.
🔗 Collocations
serve as a wake-up call – act as a warning or alert
a wake-up call for someone – a warning directed at a person or group
get a wake-up call – receive a sudden realization
🔄 Synonyms
warning (n.) – something that alerts to danger or problem
red flag (n.) – a sign of potential trouble
revelation (n.) – a surprising and important realization
🚫 Antonyms
ignorance (n.) – lack of awareness or knowledge
📖 Cultural Story
Originated as a hotel service in the early 1900s where guests could request a phone call to wake them. Later adopted metaphorically in self-help and business contexts to describe a startling realization.
Meaning 2：hotel wake-up call (Wake up call)
Wake up call
/ˈweɪk ʌp kɔːl/
n.
A phone call or knock on the door from a hotel to wake you up at a requested time.
hotel wake-up call
➕
/hoʊˈtɛl weɪk ʌp kɔːl/
n.
A scheduled phone call from a hotel front desk to wake a guest at a specific time.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
I asked for a 6 AM wake-up call because my flight leaves very early in the morning.
I asked for a 6 AM wake-up call because my flight leaves very early in the morning.
🔗 Collocations
request a wake-up call – ask the hotel to call you at a set time
set a wake-up call – arrange a morning call
miss the wake-up call – fail to answer the scheduled call
🔄 Synonyms
alarm call (n.) – a phone call to wake someone up
morning call (n.) – a call at a set time in the morning
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