call to attention
call (one) to attention
To instruct military personnel to stand at attention (which, in most cases, means looking forward and standing erect with one's arms at one's sides). The troops abruptly stopped marching when the drill sergeant called them to attention.
call (someone or something) to (one's) attention
To cause one to notice, focus on, or be aware of someone or something. I know you were trying to sneak into the meeting unnoticed, but you really called it to everyone's attention when you knocked over that chair. I liked the new paint color at first, but it is starting to call all the imperfections in the walls to my attention.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
call someone to attention
to demand that someone assume the formal military stance of attention. The officer called the platoon to attention. The sergeant called us to attention.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.