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dawn on someone

Meaning: To realize something that was perhaps already apparent to others.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Daily Life

Origin: Similar to: see the light The expression suggests that the dawn reveals a situation. See the light simply means to understand, whereas dawn on someone suggests that one has been blind or slow to understand.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • someone's days are numbered — There is only a short time before something ends.
  • dead to the world — Fast asleep.
  • deal someone in — To include someone in something, especially a card game.
  • diamond in the rough — An unpolished or unsophisticated person that has potential.
  • divide the spoils — To give portions of the goods captured during a war to the winners of the war.
  • do or die — To act out of necessity, even if the outcome is unpleasant (sentences 1 and 2) or to try…

More English idioms

  • do someone a good turn — To do someone a favor without having been asked and without expecting a favor in return.
  • dot the i's and cross the t's — To be very careful and attentive to detail.
  • down and out — Poor.
  • down in the dumps — Depressed.
  • down to the wire — To the deadline.
  • draw a blank — To be unable to remember.

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