take the red pill

present singular third person takes the red pill · participle present taking the red pill · past took the red pill · participle past taken the red pill

1. idiomaticTo perceive the world in its previously unknown, usually harsher, reality.

   If you want to be a successful bootstrapper, you have to take the red pill and determine how deep the rabbit hole called your organization goes.

   2004 September 9, Guy Kawasaki, The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything, Portfolio, →ISBN, →OL, page 92

   2 more examples

   As much as we, our generation, start to believe this fictionalized new version of reality we become complicit.... The only way out is to take the Red pill and see what things really look like.

   2005 June 1, Terry Allen, Dugout, University of Texas Press, →ISBN, →OL, page 172

   In this day and time, we must begin to take the “red pill” and open our first eye to see what's really going on, and who's behind this madness involving Hip Hop videos.

   2005 December 1, The Black Dot, Hip Hop Decoded: From Its Ancient Origin To Its Modern Day Matrix, →ISBN, →OL, page 144

   Synonyms: face facts, wise up