# reality check

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/reality-check
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A wake-up call; a reminder.

## Examples

- You need a reality check about your spending habits.
- Failing the final exam served as a harsh reality check for the student who had not studied all semester.
- The sudden loss of his primary investor provided a sobering reality check, forcing him to reconsider the viability of his ambitious business model.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.