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Abby or Ann?

Posted by ESC on July 08, 2000

In Reply to: Origin of "Wake up and Smell the Coffee" posted by Billy Jo on July 08, 2000

: : Is it always with the "and" or could it be this way:
: : Wake up.
: : Smell the Coffee.
: : If the 2nd is also correct, does it imply that it is definitely "coffee" we are referring to rather than a preoccupation?

: I've never hear this expression nor has anybody else I've consulted. It would therefore seem it has limited distribution and may have started life as a meaningless joke or jest.

I've seen the phrase used frequently in a newspaper advice column in the U.S. But I can't remember if it is "Dear Abby" or her sister "Ann Landers" who advises clueless people to "wake up and smell the coffee." Meaning "face the facts."

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