wake up and smell the coffee/roses
idiom
US, informal
: to realize the truth about one's situation : to become aware of what is really happening
These problems are not going to fix themselves. Voters need to wake up and smell the coffee and elect someone who will get things done.
Examples of wake up and smell the coffee/roses in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
All that’s left is for San Diegans to wake up and smell the coffee on the way in and divine the music inside.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
Mayor Karen Bass better wake up and smell the coffee.
—Letters To The Editor, Orange County Register, 14 Aug. 2024
People need to wake up and smell the coffee on that.
—Andy Mills, Quartz, 21 June 2024
So, wake up and smell the coffee, and clean that coffee maker today!
—USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Get it right before Mars issues a strident call to wake up and smell the coffee.
—SFChronicle.com, 11 Aug. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
Mayor Karen Bass better wake up and smell the coffee.
—Letters To The Editor, Orange County Register, 14 Aug. 2024
People need to wake up and smell the coffee on that.
—Andy Mills, Quartz, 21 June 2024
So, wake up and smell the coffee, and clean that coffee maker today!
—USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Get it right before Mars issues a strident call to wake up and smell the coffee.
—SFChronicle.com, 11 Aug. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near wake up and smell the coffee/roses
Cite this Entry
“Wake up and smell the coffee/roses.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wake%20up%20and%20smell%20the%20coffee%2Froses. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share