wake up and smell the coffee

The phrase "wake up and smell the coffee" is an idiomatic expression that means to become aware of and acknowledge the reality or truth of a situation. It is often used to tell someone to become more alert, attentive, or aware of what is happening around them. It implies that someone needs to stop being naive or ignorant and start paying attention to their surroundings or to a particular issue. The phrase is often used in a figurative sense rather than referring to the literal act of smelling coffee.