bring back to reality

bring (one) back to reality

To cause one who is fantasizing or being overly optimistic to remember or consider the true nature of something. Someone needs to bring him back to reality because there's no way he's getting into that school with his mediocre grades. I was excited to book a vacation until my nearly depleted bank account brought me back to reality. Those newlyweds think that marriage is utterly blissful, but the stresses of everyday life will bring them back to reality soon enough.

See also: back, bring, reality, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bring someone back to reality

to force someone to face reality. The rain shower brought her back to reality. Liz was brought back to reality by a rude shock.

See also: back, bring, reality, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.