Meaning: Describing something that taught you an important lesson or made you see reality, sometime used with “real,” as in “a real eye-opener.”

Examples:

My latest doctor’s exam was an eye-opener for me. I need to eat better and get more exercise.

You should read this book about global warming. It’s a real eye-opener.

Her trip to Afghanistan was an eye opener.

Pop Quiz:

What’s the opposite of an eye opener?

A.  A boring experience.

B.  A normal, everyday event.

C.  A shocking event.

To see the correct answer, click on “Continue reading”:

The correct answer is A & B. An eye opener is a new, memorable even very surprising, experience that makes you see things in a new way.