When you've been doing something self destructive for some time (perhaps without realizing it) before something serious happens that forces you to come to terms with what you've been doing and that you need to stop.

Usually involves something medical but can involve anything serious.

He used to eat tons of junk food, stuff with all sorts of sugar, salty snack foods, you name it. It doesn't help that he rarely exercised. He didn't seem to get that even the manufacturers of those foods stress the importance of a balanced diet. His wake up call was a heart attack that almost killed him. Fortunately, he took it seriously and made a lot of changes to his lifestyle.

They used to seem like they had everything. They lived well beyond their means. Most people thought they were rich. It took almost losing their house for them to start opening their eyes and living within their means. It was a real wake up call.

wake up call by Optimist with experience April 14, 2009

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Nigga Wake Up Call (NWUC)

Acronym for "Nigga Wake Up Call"

Describes an incident where a person of color forgets that they are of color and are reminded rather brutally by an unexpected act of racism.

"The Mexicans got their Nigga Wake Up Call (NWUC). They were running around here thinking they were white folks."- Paul Mooney

Nigga Wake Up Call (NWUC) by WeedsFan November 23, 2016

vegas wake-up call

waking up with what appears to be a dead prostitute in your bed, typically used for pranks.

Jon got black-out drunk last night and woke up with a dead hooker in his bed, classic vegas wake-up call.

vegas wake-up call by eljpac March 17, 2011

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3 a.m. Wake Up Call

When your girl wakes you up from a deep sleep by grinding her pussy on your thigh and hip. This results in almost instant rigidity and you roll over and give her the smashing she's aching for.

You look tired braaaaahh. Feel ok?
Feel great broohhhh. Just the lingering effects of a 3 a.m. Wake Up Call.

3 a.m. Wake Up Call by Eaton Holgoode January 22, 2016

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