wake-up call
Hotel phone alarm
A wake-up call is a phone call, typically from a hotel front desk, to rouse a guest at a requested time.
Figuratively, it's any event that forces awareness of a problem or danger: The heart attack was a wake-up call to change his lifestyle.
The figurative sense now dominates, often appearing in news and self-help contexts.
Sudden profound insight
- eye-openerStartling piece of information
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- aha momentSudden flash of understanding
- clarityState of being understandable
reckoning · moment of truth · insight · enlightenment · turning point · reality check · sobering · shock
Indicator of danger
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- omenProphetic indicator
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
heads-up · caution · signal · alert · admonition · portent · sign · indicator
Hollow resonating instrument
- buzzerElectric signaling device
- ringtonePhone's incoming call sound
- clockDevice displaying time
- beepShort electronic tone
chime · vibrate · snooze · hotel · front desk · concierge · morning · rooster
Decisive dangerous moment
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- impendingSoon to occur
deadline · catalyst · tipping point · crossroads · now or never · last chance · eleventh hour · scare
epiphany
Sudden profound insight
- eye-openerStartling piece of information
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- aha momentSudden flash of understanding
clarity · reckoning · moment of truth · insight · enlightenment · turning point · reality check · sobering · shock · jolt
red flag
Indicator of danger
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- omenProphetic indicator
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
foreshadowing · heads-up · caution · signal · alert · admonition · portent · sign · indicator · precursor
bell
Hollow resonating instrument
beep · chime · vibrate · snooze · hotel · front desk · concierge · morning · rooster · reveille
crisis
Decisive dangerous moment
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
impending · deadline · catalyst · tipping point · crossroads · now or never · last chance · eleventh hour · scare
inspiration
Source of creative impulse
stimulus · galvanize · momentum · change · action · reform · reassessment · shift · pivot · transformation
- Hotel thingshotel lobby, hotel suite, hotel room, room service, bellhop
- reality checksreality check, eye-opener, harsh truth, harsh reality, moment of truth
- energizerscoffee, caffeine, energy drinks, energy drink, espresso
- disillusionmentdisillusionment, disenchantment, disillusion, lost innocence, lost faith
- hospitalityhotel, hotels, warmth, kindness, welcome
- servicescleaning services, streaming, delivery services, salon, bellhop
wake-up calllullaby
Soothing song for babies
sedative · sleeping pill · soporific · opiate · anesthetic
wake-up callreassurance
Words meant to calm
all-clear · whitewash · sugarcoating · clean bill of health · lullaby
wake-up callgentle encouragement
Supportive, soft urging
subtle hint · kid gloves · coddling · hand-holding · whisper
call, awake, recall, awaken, caller, woke, awakening, wakes, wake