It is the time, however, to sound the wake-up call.’ “ “‘It is not yet the time,’ he added, ‘to emphasize the financial details. and 8 a.m., the subscriber being awakened by the persistent ringing of the telephone.”īefore that, though, this phrase was already in use figuratively.
The Postal Department has Inaugurated a ‘wake up’ service for telephone subscribers Up to the present 25 calls are made daily between 3 a.m. For example, in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, 1933, it mentions how telephone subscribers could get a call at an hour of their choosing to help them wake up: It looks like hotels were not the only ones providing this ‘wake-up call’ service. However, with phones as common as they are today, combined with the fact that it’s super easy to set our own alarms, I’m not sure if this service is even available anymore.Īnyway, the earliest recording that I have seen of this particular service is from the 1930s. Some hotels, instead of delivering a wake-up call via the phone, they would send a clerk to the person’s door instead. While staying at a hotel, a person could make a request for a phone call to be sent to them in the morning. This call essentially served the same purpose as an alarm clock it would help the person wake up at a specific time. How so? Well, hotels offered a ‘wake-up call’ service, or in other words, an ‘alarm clock’ type service to its guests. Like you said, I need to get fit – quickly! Bye.It’s believed the common hotels. So if you’re not punctual, you might get the sack! The boss – he hates people being late all the time. I wouldn’t, Rob – otherwise you’ll get another ‘wake-up call’. Well, that’s easy – I’m going to get a later train. It’s time to change - like Rob’s fitness! So Rob, how are you going to change your current situation? This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and in this programme we’re learning about the phrase ‘a wake-up call’, which means a warning to change your current situation and stop things from getting any worse. The recent extreme weather is a wake-up call for us all to do something about climate change. The store’s poor sales results are a wake-up call for the business to move with times and sell more fashionable clothes. Martha’s bad test results were a wake-up call for her to work harder before her final exams.
You’re unfit – you need to do some more exercise! Let’s hear some examples of ‘a wake-up call’ shall we? ‘A wake-up call’ is a warning that you need to change your current situation before it gets any worse. Hmmm, it’s not that far, Rob! I think this a wake-up call.Ī wake-up call? No, I set my alarm – I got out of bed – it just seems to take longer to walk to the station these days. Well, you would be if you had run to the station and from the station to the office. …Sorry I’m late, I missed my train and I had to wait for the next one… This is The English We Speak with me, Feifei… and… oh no, Rob is late again! You can learn what it means too by watching The English We Speak. How could this be a wake-up call if his alarm went off on time? Feifei is on hand to offer him some useful advice and explain what a wake-up call really is. Rob’s late for work and has arrived out of breath.
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