Wake up and Smell the Coffee

What Does "Wake up and Smell the Coffee" Mean?

"Wake up and smell the coffee" is an English idiom. It means "to become aware of the realities of a situation, even if they are unpleasant."

Here are three examples of the idiom "wake up and smell the coffee" used in a sentence:

You need to wake up and smell the coffee; this is not a sustainable way to live.
He finally woke up and smelled the coffee when his health started to decline.
Instead of ignoring the facts, she needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

You now know what "wake up and smell the coffee" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!

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