一个可以起到警示用途的事件就能被叫做 a wake-up call,警钟 。为的是警告一个人防止重犯同样错误或预防以后出现更大问题。
例句
The plane crash was a wake-up call for airlines never to compromise1 on safety.
When I failed my mock2 exam it was a real wake-up call. From then on I studied and revised hard.
请注意
假如你忽然发现什么不好的事情已经发生了或者正在进行中,这样的情况可以用wake up to the fact来表达,意思是觉醒、醒悟过来。
例句
You need to wake up to the fact that you are not going to pass your exams if you dont start working harder.
It took a while for my parents to wake up to the fact that their business was failing.