reality check

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reality check (plural reality checks)

1. A check or review to make sure something is consistent, reasonable, etc.

   Near-synonyms: sanity check, sanity test; sniff test

   Be sure to do a reality check on the idea before releasing it.

   • 2018 December 11, Jerry Stuger, “Autism and Religious Beliefs: Clues from Kafka Research”, in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, volume 49, →DOI, pages 1559–1569:

     what is evidently clear is the nature and quality of rational thought exhibited by both types of minds. It can be stated that Kafka’s autistic mind is not susceptible to delusional concepts which might be presented as religious dogma by society or experienced by the self. For the neurotypical mind these concepts and experiences of existential doubt are harder to shake off since it appears that the neurotypical configuration of the self is an internal cognitive mechanism without an adequate external reality check. In contrast this external reality check appears to be present in the high-functioning autistic mind. It is thought that the autistic mind is more intimately connected with objective reality via its external sensory focus on reality and its superior understanding of physical causality, relative to neurotypical persons (Baron-Cohen et al. 1999; Paganini and Gaido 2013) and is therefore less susceptible to supernatural experiences or explanations.

2. (idiomatic) A wake-up call; a reminder.

   That kid needs a reality check before he fails or drops out.

   • 2023 March 5, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United”, in BBC Sport‎:

     United's renaissance under manager Erik ten Hag already has the tangible reward of the Carabao Cup but Liverpool unleashed a brutal reality check on their progress with a severe thrashing.

• attitude check