eye-opener

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an experience, fact, or revelation that produces a sudden and surprising understanding

   Working one shift in the emergency department was a real eye-opener for the new administrator.

2. 2
   noun

   informal and dated: a strong alcoholic drink taken early in the day

   The traveler ordered an eye-opener with breakfast before catching the train.

A compound of eye + opener. The figurative sense treats new knowledge as something that opens a person's eyes to reality. The older American use for a morning alcoholic drink presents the drink as something that opens sleepy eyes.

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