rude awakening

rude awakening

The shocking instance of learning the unpleasant or unwelcome truth about a situation. We had a rude awakening when the waiter brought us the bill and we saw how much we had spent on dinner and drinks.
See also: awaken, rude
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a rude awakening

COMMON If you have had a rude awakening, you have been forced to realize the unpleasant truth about something. Such details as have emerged about the new economic package suggest that these citizens are indeed in for a rude awakening. Johnson was confident he could make a quick profit. But, instead of quick profits, he got a rude awakening.
See also: awaken, rude
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a rude awakening

a sudden realization of the true (bad) state of affairs, having previously been under the illusion that everything was satisfactory.
2004 The New Farm It must have been a rude awakening for the world powers when upstart Third-World countries began to flex their collective muscle.
See also: awaken, rude
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a rude aˈwakening

(written) a sudden, unexpected discovery of an unpleasant fact, truth, etc: If he thinks that the exam’s going to be easy, he’s going to get a rude awakening.
See also: awaken, rude
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a rude awakening
  • be in for a rude awakening
  • skunk at a garden party
  • here we go again
  • shoot off (one's) face
  • interject
  • interject (someone or something) into (something)
  • interject into
  • keep (one's) cool
  • keep one’s cool
References in periodicals archive
In fact, I would look at it as a rude awakening for us,' Pinol said in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel.
Doug Monro, co-founder of Adzuna, said: "This needs to be a rude awakening to cities up and down the UK that more must be done to bridge the gender pay gulf."
STEVE Bruce described Aston Villa's battering at Cardiff City as a 'rude awakening' as their miserable away form continued.
ROUND-UP DERMOT DRUMMY got a rude awakening in his first match in charge of CRAWLEY as they lost to relegated DAGENHAM.
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has asked Arsenal not to give him a rude awakening when the Premier League leaders visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (2pm).
Certainly, Reds fans expecting another 4-1 or 6-1 may be in for a bit of a rude awakening. Jurgen Klopp won't underestimate Newcastle, though.
Richard LaGravenese was nominated for an Oscar at age 32 for his first solo screenplay, "The Fisher King." But his movie career got off to a rocky start a few years earlier, as co-writer of the Cheech Marin-Eric Roberts comedy "Rude Awakening" for producer Aaron Russo.
An American dentist hoping to visit the Spanish city of Granada for a few days before a conference in Portugal got a rude awakening when what he thought would be a two-hour flight from London turned out to be a nine-hour flightto Grenada, in the Caribbean.
Caldo reckons the United squad are in for a rude awakening when the Dutchman arrives, saying: "He's a hard taskmaster - it's either his way of the highway."
We've not heard it yet -- even the new music video supporting the album, "Final Backward Glance,'' is only viewable in Europe at the moment -- but Bane's Worcester fans can get a taste with the band's CD release party, with special guests Turnstile, Rude Awakening, Caught In A Crowd and Test Of Time, at 6 p.m.
RUDE AWAKENING: Police carried out raids over two days to bring suspects into custody
Try opening track Going Up Against Goliath and Rude Awakening to see if he's your cup of tea.
Adina Azarian, founder of the rental brokerage Adina Equities, recalled the rude awakening she got just after Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008.
Summary: Men are in for a rude awakening as a women-only audio blogging station has become one of Egypt;'s growing censorship-free forums for women intent on tackling taboo issues of gender inequality and
at the age of twelve is brought to an early and rude awakening into the world of hard labor.