Meanings
nounrude awakening (plural rude awakenings)
plural rude awakenings
- An unexpected discovery of an undesirable fact, especially one shattering high hopes or signifying the end of a comfortable situation.
Mario Gomez scored twice as Manchester City were given a rude awakening by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
2011 September 27, Alistair Magowan, “Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport1 more example
Mums who expect blissful bonding times while baby breastfeeds and you snuggle up to take naps together are in for a rude awakening.
2019 June 6, Julie McCaffrey, “Stacey Solomon says getting pre-baby body back is the ‘least of her worries’”, in Mirror.co.uk
Translations
Finnish karun todellisuuden valkeneminen
- karun todellisuuden valkeneminenTranslations
French dur retour à la réalité, douche froide
- dur retour à la réalitéTranslations
- douche froideTranslations
- désillusionTranslations
German böses Erwachen
- böses ErwachenTranslations
Polish kubeł zimnej wody, zimny prysznic
- kubeł zimnej wodyTranslations
- zimny prysznicTranslations
Spanish golpe duro, baldazo de realidad
- golpe duroTranslations
- baldazo de realidadTranslations
- bajada de las nubesTranslations
- bajamiento de las nubesTranslations
- despertamiento rudoTranslations
- brusco despertarTranslations
Cite this entry
APA
rude awakening. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rude%20awakening
MLA
“rude awakening.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rude%20awakening. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rude awakening,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rude%20awakening.
Source: rude awakening on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.