brrring, brrring

The news that 40% of the world’s oceans have been heavily affected by pollution has been headlined (predictably enough) as a ‘wake-up call’.

This over-worked phrase has shifted slightly since it first surfaced in 1976 to describe placing a request with the hotel front desk to receive a call the next morning. In its original sense, a wake-up call wouldn’t be unexpected and wouldn’t be news.

'Wake-up call' joins 'saving the planet' as one to avoid.