notice
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advance notice
A notification, signal, or sign that something is going to happen or is expected to happen. I know that we were all surprised that Dad decided to move to China, but I think his learning Mandarin last year was something of an advance notice.
take no notice of (something or someone)
To not pay any attention to someone or something; to ignore or disregard someone or something. Take no notice of those troublemakers, they're only trying to provoke you. I was so distracted with thoughts of tomorrow's exam that I took no notice of where I was walking and stepped right out into the road!
at a moment's notice
With little time to prepare; immediately and at any time. Firefighters need to be able to spring into action at a moment's notice. I can't give a speech at a moment's notice!
See also: notice
come to attention
Of military personnel, to stand at attention (which, in most cases, means looking forward and standing erect with one's arms at one's sides). When they heard the drill sergeant's call, the troops abruptly stopped marching and came to attention.
escape (one's) notice
To avoid being seen. I doubt you will escape people's notice if you show up at the party in a floor-length sequined gown.
make (one) sit up and take notice
To cause one to become alert and give his or her attention. Although he's been making music for years, it was his smash hit last April that made people sit up and take notice. The president's proposed aid program has made many global leaders sit up and take notice.
take a blind bit of notice
To give one's attention to someone or something. Almost always used in the negative to convey the opposite. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I've been trying to show her I fancy her, but she hasn't taken a blind bit of notice. My parents don't take a blind bit of notice of my dreams of becoming a musicians—they just want me to major in business.
on short notice
Without much warning or time to prepare. Who do you think will be free to watch the dog on such short notice? When you're on call, you need to be available to come in on short notice.
sit up and take notice
To become alert and give one's complete attention to someone or something. Although he's been making music for years, it was his smash hit song last April that caused people to sit up and take notice. The president's proposed legislation has made many global leaders sit up and take notice.
take note
Remember or focus on (something). Take note—this street will be closed on Monday.
give notice
1. To inform one's employer of one's resignation. In this usage, a possessive pronoun is often used between "give" and "notice." I just gave my notice, so I'm officially leaving in two weeks. You can just walk out—you have to at least give notice!
2. To alert one to something. I think your teacher would have been more understanding if you had given notice of this printing issue in advance.
sit up
1. To rise up to a sitting position after having been lying down. I woke up very thirsty, so I sat up to take a drink of water.
2. To raise someone up into a sitting position after they have been lying down. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "sit" and "up." They sat the patient up so she could see her visitors.
3. To sit with a fixed, upright posture. Please sit up during class—stop slouching at your desk like that!
4. To suddenly take notice of something or become very alert. Our son sat up the moment we mentioned the possibility of going to Disneyland.
at short notice
Without much warning or time to prepare. Who do you think will be free to watch the dog at such short notice?
not a blind bit of (something)
Not any amount of something. It doesn't make a blind bit of difference to me whether you do it now or this weekend—just get it done! I've been trying to show her I fancy her, but she hasn't taken a blind bit of notice.
put (one) on notice
To warn or alert someone to something that may, is about to, or will likely occur. We're putting parents on notice after we received complaints about students being bullied after school. Companies are being put on notice that their interest rates are likely to rise in the new year.
take notice (of someone or something)
To become aware of, remember, focus on, or pay attention to someone or something. I thought Sally would sure take notice of me if I wore my new satin dress, but she didn't even look my direction when Visitors are reminded to take notice of local laws and customs. The tax laws are changing dramatically, and international businesses need to take notice.
at a moment's notice
and on a moment's noticewith very little advance notice; with just a little bit of warning. They are always asking us to produce reports at a moment's notice.
See also: notice
come to attention
to assume a formal military posture, standing very straight. Almost immediately, the soldiers came to attention.
come to someone's attention
and come to someone's noticeto 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
sit up
1. to rise from a lying to a sitting position. When the alarm went off, he sat up and put his feet on the floor. She couldn't sleep, so she sat up and read a book.
2. to sit more straight in one's seat; to hold one's posture more upright while seated. Please sit up. Don't slouch! You wouldn't get backaches if you would sit up.
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.
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.
with advance notice
and on advance noticewith 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.
escape notice
Elude attention or observation, as in It must have escaped the editor's notice so I'll write again. [c. 1700]
give notice
1. Inform or warn someone of something, as in He's prompt about giving us notice of any discrepancy in the accounts. [Late 1500s]
2. Tell one's employer one is quitting, as in Our housekeeper gave notice last week. This usage, first recorded in 1765, originally alluded to any kind of termination, such as a housing lease, but today is most often used for leaving employment.
short notice, on
Also, at short notice. With little advance warning or time to prepare, as in They told us to be ready to move out on short notice. The noun notice here is used in the sense of "information" or "intelligence." [Late 1700s]
sit up
1. Rise to a sitting position from lying down, as in The sick child sat up and asked for a drink of water. [Early 1200s]
2. Stay up later than usual, as in The nurse sat up with her all night long. [Mid-1500s]
3. Sit with the spine erect, as in She was always telling the students to sit up. [Early 1700s]
4. Become suddenly alert, as in The students sat up when he brought up the test. The same sense appears in the related sit up and take notice, as in When he mentioned the arrival of a movie star, they all sat up and took notice. [Late 1800s]
take note
Also, take notice. Pay attention, as in Take note, not one man here is wearing a tie, or The aide took notice of the boys throwing spitballs and reported them. An antonym is take no notice of, meaning "ignore," as in Take no notice of them and they'll stop teasing you. [Late 1500s] Also see take notes.
sit up and take notice
If someone sits up and takes notice, they start paying attention to something because they realize it is important or worth noticing. In the last few years the medical world has begun to sit up and take notice of the role diet has to play in health. Pressure groups will need to campaign hard before anyone in power is forced to sit up and take notice.
at short (or a moment's) notice
with little warning or time for preparation.put someone on notice (or serve notice)
warn someone of something about or likely to occur, often in a formal or threatening way.sit up (and take notice)
suddenly start paying attention or have your interest aroused. informalnot a ˌblind bit of ˈnotice, ˈdifference, etc.
,not the ˌblindest bit of ˈnotice, ˈdifference, etc.
(British English, spoken) no notice, difference, etc. at all: She didn’t take a blind bit of notice when I asked her to stop. She walked straight past me.escape somebody’s ˈnotice
not be noticed by somebody: It may have escaped your notice but I’m very busy right now. Can we talk later?at (very) short ˈnotice
(also at a moment’s ˈnotice) with very little warning; without much time to prepare: In this job you have to be able to work weekends at short notice.sit up
v.
1. To rise from lying down to a sitting position: The patient sat up for her meal.
2. To sit with the spine erect: The nanny told the children to sit up.
3. To stay up later than the customary bedtime: My parents sat up waiting for me to come home.
4. To become suddenly alert: The students sat up when the teacher mentioned the test.
take notice of
To pay attention to.