Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

wake-up call

 - 2 dictionary results
WakeUp Service cell/home
Can't Sleep? Rest assured. Let WAKE123 wake you up!
www.wake123.com
FREE Wake Up Calls
See why thousands of people use WakeUpLand to wake up each morning!
www.WakeUpLand.com
Free Wake Up Calls
Schedule wake up calls to your home or mobile phone. Free trial.
www.MySnoozeSter.com
wake-up call   (wāk'ŭp')
n.  

  1. A telephone call that one requests to occur at a specific time in order to be woken up, especially in a hotel.

  2. A sign or warning that alerts one to negative or dangerous behavior or circumstances: "Her personal life was spiraling out of control . . . and her brush with death came as a wake-up call" (Geraldine Fabrikant).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
WakeUp Service cell/home
Can't Sleep? Rest assured. Let WAKE123 wake you up!
www.wake123.com
FREE Wake Up Calls
See why thousands of people use WakeUpLand to wake up each morning!
www.WakeUpLand.com
Idioms & Phrases

wake-up call

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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see wake-up call on Thesaurus | Reference
Free Wake Up Calls
Schedule wake up calls to your home or mobile phone. Free trial.
www.MySnoozeSter.com
Wake Up Call Service Info
Get Info On Wake Up Call Service Access 10 Search Engines At Once.
www.Info.com/WakeUpCallService
Free WakeUp Call Software
Easy to use calendar program with auto phone reminder. Download Now!
www.voicent.com
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way