eyeopener

[ ahy-oh-puh-ner ]

/ ˈaɪˌoʊ pə nər /

an experience or disclosure that gives one a sudden realization or understanding: Her disclosures about her childhood were a real eyeopener.

a drink of liquor taken early in the day and intended to wake a person up fully.

Origin of eyeopener

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; eye + opener

This attack, coming just days after the PlayStation DDoS, was certainly an eye-opener.

The Attack on the Hidden Internet |Marc Rogers |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But to have a respected party voice like Ayres assess the situation so harshly has got to be an eye-opener.

GOP Pollster: Party Running Out of White Voters |Howard Kurtz |December 13, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
No doubt, missionary life was an eye-opener for the privileged young Mitt.

Mitt Romney's 'Missionary in France' Tale Won't Make Us Forget He's Rich |Michelle Cottle |December 15, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
To see that young chap Stirling handling Maguire was an eye-opener.

The Honorable Peter Stirling and What People Thought of Him |Paul Leicester Ford

This campaign is of course not only an eye-opener to them but also a God-send.

With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia |One of its Officer
Oh, believe me, my dear, there is no eye-opener in the world like love.

Wheat and Huckleberries |Charlotte Marion (White) Vaile
We was agreed that the hull business depended on the Eye-Opener.

Alec Lloyd, Cowpuncher |Eleanor Gates
This was an eye-opener to many in the form, but the result sent Gus into the seventh heaven of delight.

Acton's Feud |Frederick Swainson

eye-opener

something startling or revealing

US and Canadian an alcoholic drink taken early in the morning