call to attention

call (one) to attention

To instruct military personnel to stand at attention (which, in most cases, means looking forward and standing erect with one's arms at one's sides). The troops abruptly stopped marching when the drill sergeant called them to attention.
See also: attention, call

call (someone or something) to (one's) attention

To cause one to notice, focus on, or be aware of someone or something. I know you were trying to sneak into the meeting unnoticed, but you really called it to everyone's attention when you knocked over that chair. I liked the new paint color at first, but it is starting to call all the imperfections in the walls to my attention.
See also: attention, call
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

call someone to attention

to demand that someone assume the formal military stance of attention. The officer called the platoon to attention. The sergeant called us to attention.
See also: attention, call
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • call (one) to attention
  • grip (one's) attention
  • snap to
  • snap to (attention)
  • snap to attention
  • attention
  • get (one's) attention
  • turn (one's) mind to (something)
  • hold (one's) attention
  • hold attention
References in periodicals archive
ISLAMABAD -- Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan on Friday responded to the opposition's call to attention notice regarding an exorbitant increase in Hajj expenses this year and said that 70% of the expenditure is incurred in Saudi Arabia and the government has no control over it.
Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan moved a call to attention notice over the government's decision to not grant a subsidy to pilgrims in the Hajj Policy 2019.
70% Hajj expenditure incurred in Saudi, have no control over it: parliamentary affairs Minister
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan on Friday responded to the opposition's call to attention notice regarding an exorbitant increase in Hajj expenses this year and said that 70% of the expenditure is incurred in Saudi Arabia and the government has no control over it.
Responding to the call to attention notice, the minister for parliamentary affairs said, "Finance Minister Asad Umar wanted to give relief to people on Hajj expenses.
70% Hajj expenditure incurred in Saudi, have no control over it: parliamentary affairs minister
In her call to attention notice, the PML-F lawmaker said that 1,894 children had gone missing in 2017 and she wanted to know what steps the provincial authorities were taking to recover them.
Over 900 children went missing in Sindh in 2017
During a call to attention by Syed Zafar Ali Shah over provision of dislocated minorities, the PML-N senator expressed his great indignation over the issue, which federal Housing minister Kakar promptly declared as responsibility of Punjab Government.
Spat between Kakar and Syed Zafar Ali Shah over housing for minorities
As the bike moves along, it produces a resounding call to attention. Of course, the trumpet sometimes sounds like an ambulance, an alarm, or Morse code--even experimental salsa.
1000 words: Allora and Calzadilla talk about three pieces in Vieques
"Thus says the LORD." Ten times we hear this call to attention, leading up to the text about the new covenant.
Reformation Day: October 31, 2004