# wake up and smell the coffee

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Often in the infinitive or imperative: to face reality and stop deluding oneself.

## Examples

- You need to wake up and smell the coffee about your job.
- She needs to wake up and smell the coffee regarding her expensive lifestyle.
- Stop hoping he will change his mind and wake up and smell the coffee.
- If you think you can pass the exam without studying, you need to wake up and smell the coffee before it is too late.
- The city council must wake up and smell the coffee about the rising cost of housing if they want to help local families.
- It is time for the management to wake up and smell the coffee regarding the company's declining sales.

## Origin

Probably a humorous elaboration of wake up (“to become more aware of a real-life situation; to concentrate on the matter in hand”), alluding to the fact that coffee is often consumed at breakfast time after waking up in the morning. The term was popularized by the American writer Esther Pauline “Eppie” Lederer (1918–2002), who used the pen name Ann Landers, in the syndicated newspaper advice column Ask Ann Landers. (disputed)

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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.