wake–up call

noun

: a telephone call that a hotel makes to your room to wake you up

: something that makes you fully understand a problem, danger, or need

Full Definition of WAKE-UP CALL

: something (as a telephone call from a hotel employee to a guest) that serves to wake a sleeper

: something that serves to alert a person to a problem, danger, or need <a wake-up call to parents>

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1976

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