aprire gli occhi

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to open the eyes”. Compare French ouvrir les yeux.

Verb

aprire gli occhi

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see aprire,‎ gli,‎ occhi.
2. (figurative, by extension) to disabuse oneself; to wake up; to wake up and smell the coffee [with su ‘about something’]
3. (figurative, by extension) to open (someone's) eyes [with a ‘someone’ and su ‘about something’]