woke

(one) woke up on the right side of the grass

One is still living (as opposed to dead and buried). Often said to indicate that one's life is tolerable or positive overall, despite difficulties. No, I didn't have the best day, but at least I woke up on the right side of the grass, right? A: "Hi, Grandma! How are you?" B: "Oh, I'm all right, darling—the usual aches and pains, you know how it is. I woke up on the right side of the grass, so I can't complain too much!"
See also: grass, of, on, right, side, up, woke

stay woke

slang To be aware of the need for and committed to social justice. This usage of the term "woke" (particularly in reference to activism against black oppression) is thought to have originated in the mid-20th century US. Primarily heard in US. We can't just protest today and then ignore these issues tomorrow—we have to stay woke.
See also: stay, woke

wake (up) to (something)

1. Literally, to be roused from sleep due to some stimulus, especially noise. I've been waking to the sound of my neighbor's dogs barking at 6 AM every single morning for the past two months. We woke to a clatter downstairs, and I thought we were being robbed.
2. To encounter something upon waking. I woke up to the smell of bacon frying downstairs. For Mother's Day, let's let Mom sleep in and wake to a clean house.
3. To become suddenly and acutely aware of something, such as some problem or issue. When is the company finally going to wake up to the deep dissatisfaction among its employees? These politicians need to wake up to the serious problems plaguing our country.
See also: wake

wake the dead

To be extremely noisy and disruptive. Would you two be quiet—you'll wake the dead! Having so many kids running around screaming all at once, it was loud enough to wake the dead!
See also: dead, wake

wake up

1. To awaken from sleep. I dreamt I was falling through a floor made of macaroni and cheese, when I suddenly woke up. I'm finding it harder and harder to wake up this early in the morning.
2. To cause someone to awaken from sleep. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "wake" and "up." I had to wake him up because his snoring had gotten so bad in the night. I have to have a cup of coffee in the morning to help wake me up. Go wake up your brother—we're leaving soon!
3. To become alert to or aware of something, especially something that needs to be recognized as a problem. The board of directors refuses to see the imminent danger facing the company. At this point, it will take a financial disaster to make them to wake up. You need to wake up to what's happening instead of ignoring the situation.
4. To cause someone to become alert to or aware of something, especially something that needs to be recognized as a problem. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "wake" and "up." We're trying to wake people up to the horrible reality of global meat production. If investors were feeling complacent before, this earnings report ought to wake them up.
See also: up, wake

wake up feeling human

To wake up feeling well-rested and healthy. I thought that I'd for sure be hungover this morning, but nope, I woke up feeling human, thank goodness. No, I had a cold all week. Today is actually the first day that I've woken up feeling human. With a newborn in the house, it'll be quite a while before you two will wake up feeling human again.
See also: feeling, human, up, wake

wake up on the wrong side of (the) bed

To be in a particularly and persistently irritable, unhappy, or grouchy mood or state, especially when it is not in line with one's normal disposition. I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier, I think I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Jeez, the boss has been in a really bad mood all day. I guess he must have woken up on the wrong side of bed!
See also: bed, of, on, side, up, wake, wrong

wake up to (something)

To become alert to or aware of something, especially something that needs to be recognized as a problem. You need to wake up to what's happening instead of ignoring the situation. If this country doesn't wake up to the hatred that's among us, we're going to have a bleak future.
See also: up, wake

woke

slang Aware of the need for and committed to social justice. This usage of the term (particularly in reference to activism against black oppression) is thought to have originated in the mid-20th century US. Often used in the phrase "stay woke." Primarily heard in US. We can't just protest today and then ignore these issues tomorrow—we have to stay woke. You're not woke if you think the status quo is OK.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wake (someone or an animal) up

to cause someone or an animal to awaken. Please don't wake me up until noon. Wake up your brother at noon.
See also: up, wake

wake someone up (to something)

to cause someone to become alert and pay attention. (Does not refer to someone actually asleep.) We tried to wake them up to the dangers. Try to wake up the students to their responsibilities.
See also: up, wake

wake the dead

Fig. to be so loud as to wake those who are "sleeping" the most soundly: the dead. You are making enough noise to wake the dead. Stop hollering! You'll wake the dead!
See also: dead, wake

wake up

to awaken; to become alert. Wake up! We have to get on the road. It's time to wake up!
See also: up, wake
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

wake the ˈdead

(of a noise) be very loud: He must have heard it — that doorbell’s loud enough to wake the dead.
See also: dead, wake
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

wake up

v.
1. To rouse someone or something from sleep; awaken someone or something: Be quiet, or you will wake up the baby. The alarm woke me up.
2. To become awake; waken: I plan to wake up early tomorrow.
3. To make someone alert or cognizant: The coffee woke me up. The shocking revelations finally woke up the citizens.
4. wake up to To become alert or cognizant of something: We suddenly woke up to the fact that the family business was failing.
See also: up, wake
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (one) woke up on the right side of the grass
  • an all-out effort
  • be (one's) life
  • be somebody's life
  • a change of scenery
  • a change of scene
  • (one's) day in court
  • (there's) no peace/rest for the wicked
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at doorstep
References in periodicals archive
Topba expressed shock and disappointment at Woke's action.
'Not satisfied with abusing and insulting me, Woke, a former chairman of Emohua LG council, when Governor Wike was the chairman of Obio/Akpor LG council, moved towards me where I sat and he attempted to hit me, but other persons in the studio prevented him from doing so.
Governor's aide storms radio station, disrupts live programme
According to (http://fusion.net/story/252567/stay-woke/) Fusion , the first notable use of "Woke" is the 2008 Erykah Badu song "Master Teacher." In it, Badu sings about dreaming of a world with racial equality before urging listeners to "stay woke" - stop dreaming and confront racial injustice in reality. 
However, it was not until the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old African-American teen, by neighborhood watchman George Martin in Florida and the subsequent birth of the Black Lives Matter movement that "woke" caught fire. 
What Does 'Stay Woke' Actually Mean?
Every morning, I woke up using my Wake-Up Light, then walked to the bathroom to wash my face and hands with cold water.
The cold temperature woke my mouth up, and holding the frosted glass did for my hands what washing with cold water does for my face.
How I Used Science to Make Getting up Easier
Analysis of the saliva from the half who woke earlier - before 7.21am - showed they had higher levels of cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, than those who woke later.
Early mornings a shock to the system
The householder had left the grill on and gone to sleep but woke up in time to escape from the house and call the emergency services.
Man escapes from kitchen fire
Of the 1,854 ischemic strokes in the study, 273, or 14 percent, were "wake-up strokes," where the person woke up with stroke symptoms.
1 in 7 strokes happen when asleep
That means someone who woke at 6am during their working life might now naturally wake at 4am or even 3.30.
Dr Miriam: Will booze help her to snooze?
However, during his wake, for a brief moment, the boy woke up, asked for water and then proceeded to pass away again.
Kelvin Santos, 2-Year-Old Boy From Brazil, Rises From The 'Dead' At His Wake And Asks For Glass Of Water
London, Dec 2 (ANI): A Chinese man was left stunned when he woke his wife from a 10-year coma by nibbling on her toes.
Zhang, of Shenyang, who had tried everything under the heaven to wake his wife from playing music, speaking to her, tickling her, finally woke her up by nibbling on her toes.
Chinese man wakes wife from 10-year coma by biting toe!