Phrase of the day: What “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee” really means

The idiom “wake up and smell the coffee” encourages someone to face reality, accept the truth, or stop dismissing obvious facts. Originating in the United States in the early 20th century, it uses coffee as a morning beverage that wakes people up physically as a metaphor for mental alertness. It is generally used in informal and conversational English, in personal, professional, or social circumstances, often with a humorous tone.