dawn

at the crack of dawn

very early in the morning. We had an early flight so we were up at the crack of dawn.

See also: crack

The darkest hour is just before the dawn.

something that you say which means a bad situation often seems worse just before it improves. There's still a chance she might recover. The darkest hour is just before the dawn.

See also: before, dark, hour, just

a false dawn

something which seems to show that a successful period is beginning or that a situation is improving when it is not. His victory in the French Open proved to be a false dawn after he failed to win another title for the next five years.

See also: false

light dawns

if light dawns on you, you suddenly understand something. He was lying to me, but it was months before the light dawned. Light dawned on me when I heard she knew my mother. (often + on)

See also: light

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at the crack of dawn

very early in the morning. We had an eight o'clock flight so we were up at the crack of dawn.

See also: crack

dawn on you

to suddenly understand something. It finally dawned on him that she'd been joking and he was worried for no reason.