notice

at a moment's notice and on a moment's notice

with very little advance notice; with just a little bit of warning. They are always asking us to produce reports at a moment's notice.

come to someone's attention and come to someone's notice

to be told to, revealed to, or discovered by someone. It has come to my attention that you are not following the rules. Your comments have just come to my notice.

See also: attention, come

come to attention

to assume a formal military posture, standing very straight. Almost immediately, the soldiers came to attention.

See also: attention, come

escape someone's notice

Fig. to go unnoticed; not to have been noticed. (Usually a way to point out that someone has failed to see or respond to something.) I suppose my earlier request escaped your notice, so I'm writing again. I'm sorry. Your letter escaped my notice.

See also: escape

give (one's) notice

to formally tell one's employer that one is quitting one's job. Did you hear that James is leaving? He gave his notice yesterday. Lisa gave notice today. She got a job offer from another company.

See also: give

on short notice

quickly and without a timely notification of other people; with very little lead time. She called the meeting on such short notice that we had no time to prepare.

See also: short

serve notice (on someone)

to formally or clearly announce something to someone. John served notice that he wouldn't prepare the coffee anymore. I'm serving notice that I'll resign as secretary next month.

See also: serve

sit up and take notice

to become alert and pay attention. A loud noise from the front of the room caused everyone to sit up and take notice. The company wouldn't pay any attention to my complaints. When I had my lawyer write them a letter, they sat up and took notice.

See also: and, sit, take, up

take notice of someone or something

Fig. to notice the presence or existence of someone or something. They didn't take notice of me, so I left. I took notice of the amount of the bill.

See also: take

with advance notice and on advance notice

with some kind of notification or indication that something is going to happen or is expected before it actually happens. We are happy to provide special meals for anyone with advance notice.

See also: advance

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not take a blind bit of notice  (British & Australian informal)

to not give someone or something any attention at all Protesters were shouting and waving banners outside the embassy, but no-one took a blind bit of notice. (often + of ) They didn't take a blind bit of notice of our objections.

See also: bit, blind, take

make somebody sit up and take notice

to make someone suddenly notice something and become interested in it (often + of ) That was the record that made me sit up and take notice of Neil Hannon.

See also: and, make, sit, take, up

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at a moment's notice

almost immediately Everyone was packed and ready to leave at a moment's notice.

Related vocabulary: at the drop of a hat

give notice (to somebody) also give somebody notice

1. to warn your employer that you will stop working Jones gave notice in October that he planned to leave at the end of the school year.

2. to tell an employee that they will no longer be employed The company didn't give its employees notice, they just sent everyone home and closed the plant.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of give notice (to give written or printed information)

See also: give

on short notice also at short notice

with little warning It's hard to find someone to take care of the kids on short notice.

See also: short

sit up and take notice

to suddenly give something your attention His election made even people who don't care about politics sit up and take notice.

See also: and, sit, take, up

take notice (of somebody/something)

to give someone or something your attention take note (of somebody/something) Voters are beginning to take notice of her as a serious candidate. Several professors took notice of her excellent grasp of the subject.

See also: take