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eye-opener

eye-opener

16 4.4
An experience that makes you see something in a new way
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪˌoʊpənər/
translation icon : revelación
  • Reading that book was an eye-opener for me, as it highlighted social issues I had overlooked.
  • a real eye-opener

That was about consciousness and that was a big eye opener in in some sense.

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Examples

  • I went to a contemporary art fair in Shanghai recently, which was a real eye-opener.

    Blog text (12)
  • Even the most experienced secondary care nurse would find her first few days in primary care a real eye-opener: the practice nurse needs a whole array of skills in addition to clinical expertise.

    Academic text (2014)
  • That was truly an eye opening experience.

  • And that was an eye opener for me.

  • This has been a real eye opener for me.

  • That whole day was a massive eye-opener for me, you know.

  • The exercise was an eye-opener to my general manager and to others in the company.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Doing the paper was a real eye-opener for me and others.

    Blog text (9)
  • The whole experience was a real eye-opener for me, never having been involved in any kind of political campaign.

    Blog text (9)
  • Besides, my brief stay with the state was an eye-opener for me.

Synonyms

revelation
vseye-opener
175 5.0

A surprising fact that people did not know before

is more about a personal change in viewpoint than the act of revealing facts
awakening
vseye-opener
54 4.4

A new understanding that makes you see things differently

is specifically an experience that surprises and shifts perspective rather than general awareness
epiphany
vseye-opener
52 6.6

A sudden clear idea that gives you new understanding

is often a surprising external experience that changes perspective rather than an inner flash
wake-up call
vseye-opener
18 3.4

An event that makes people realize they must act or change what they do

is a broader insight often changing how one thinks rather than urging action
eye opener
vseye-opener
1 3.9

A surprising event or fact that teaches you something new

is the hyphenated modern spelling of the same phrase
mind-blower
vseye-opener
  • Informal
1 7.4

A thing that is very surprising and amazes you

is more about revealing and changing viewpoint rather than sheer astonishment

Antonyms

316 3.9

Not knowing about something or how it works

How Revealing

epiphany
52 6.6
revelation
175 5.0
eye-opener
16 4.4
insight
493 4.9
surprise
1.0

Surface Forms

eye-opener singular
eye-openers plural

Morphology

eye-opener = eye + opener (transparent) = eye + open + er

Formed by compounding 'eye' + 'opener' (opener = open + -er); the metaphor 'something that opens the eyes' is readily inferable.

Etymology

Eye-opener comes from the simple image of eye + open, meaning 'to open' your eyes, and was once used for a strong morning drink that wakes you up. So an eye-opener is an event or experience that suddenly makes you see or understand something new.