To dawn on
St Paul's Cathedral in London at dawn. Photo: BBC.
Today's Phrase
If something dawns on you, you realise it for the first time.
Examples:
It dawned on me that I hadn't been sick for two years.
It was several hours before the truth finally dawned on Michael: he was in the wrong city.
Take note
The crack of dawn is a phrase which means very early in the morning, when the sky just starts to change colour.
Example:
We have to leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn. Try to get some sleep.
Everyone woke up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning. They wanted to see what presents they had been given.
Interesting fact
Dawn and sunrise are two different things in English. Dawn begins when it starts to get light, before the sun appears. Sunrise starts when the first part of the sun can be seen at the horizon.