reality check

noun
1.
a corrective confronting of reality, in order to counteract one's expectations, prejudices, or the like.
Origin
1970-75
Examples from the web for reality check
  • But the week leading up to my commencement forced a reality check.
  • Once you have a folder of ideas, it's time to do a reality check on needs versus desires.
  • Let me interrupt the tourism brochures here for a reality check.
  • Your answers to the following questions will provide both an inspiration and a reality check.
  • Imagine a campus without students for that reality check.
  • If nothing else, post-tenure depression is an appropriate occasion for a reality check.
  • Those who weep and wail that access and opportunity are constantly under threat should have a reality check.
  • One way to help prevent it is to try to get the parents to do a reality check.
  • They are a reality check on our psychological theories and our theories of artificial intelligence.
  • Loss of privilege is traditionally an effective reality check.
British Dictionary definitions for reality check

reality check

noun
1.
an occasion or opportunity to consider a matter realistically or honestly
Slang definitions & phrases for reality check

reality check

noun phrase

A confirmation of fact, esp when compared with fantasy: Proxmire's pronouncements provided a reality check on spending requests (1990s+)


reality check in Technology


1. The simplest kind of test of software or hardware; doing the equivalent of asking it what 2 + 2 is and seeing if you get 4. The software equivalent of a smoke test.
2. The act of letting a real user try out prototype software.
Compare sanity check.
(2007-03-15)

Idioms and Phrases with reality check

reality check

An assessment to determine if one's circumstances or expectations conform to reality, as in Time for a reality check—wasn't this supposed to be a money-making enterprise? [ ; second half of 1900s ]