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notice
advance notice
A notification, signal, or sign that something is going to happen or is expected to happen. I know that we were all surprised that Dad decided to move to China, but I think his learning Mandarin last year was something of an advance notice.
take no notice of (something or someone)
To not pay any attention to someone or something; to ignore or disregard someone or something. Take no notice of those troublemakers, they're only trying to provoke you. I was so distracted with thoughts of tomorrow's exam that I took no notice of where I was walking and stepped right out into the road!
at a moment's notice
With little time to prepare; immediately and at any time. Firefighters need to be able to spring into action at a moment's notice. I can't give a speech at a moment's notice!
at a moment's notice
and on a moment's noticewith very little advance notice; with just a little bit of warning. They are always asking us to produce reports at a moment's notice.
come to attention
to assume a formal military posture, standing very straight. Almost immediately, the soldiers came to attention.
come to someone's attention
and come to someone's noticeto be told to, revealed to, or discovered by someone. It has come to my attention that you are not following the rules. Your comments have just come to my notice.
escape someone's notice
Fig. to go unnoticed; not to have been noticed. (Usually a way to point out that someone has failed to see or respond to something.) I suppose my earlier request escaped your notice, so I'm writing again. I'm sorry. Your letter escaped my notice.
give (one's) notice
to formally tell one's employer that one is quitting one's job. Did you hear that James is leaving? He gave his notice yesterday. Lisa gave notice today. She got a job offer from another company.
on short notice
quickly and without a timely notification of other people; with very little lead time. She called the meeting on such short notice that we had no time to prepare.
serve notice (on someone)
to formally or clearly announce something to someone. John served notice that he wouldn't prepare the coffee anymore. I'm serving notice that I'll resign as secretary next month.
sit up
1. to rise from a lying to a sitting position. When the alarm went off, he sat up and put his feet on the floor. She couldn't sleep, so she sat up and read a book.
2. to sit more straight in one's seat; to hold one's posture more upright while seated. Please sit up. Don't slouch! You wouldn't get backaches if you would sit up.
sit up and take notice
to become alert and pay attention. A loud noise from the front of the room caused everyone to sit up and take notice. The company wouldn't pay any attention to my complaints. When I had my lawyer write them a letter, they sat up and took notice.
take notice of someone or something
Fig. to notice the presence or existence of someone or something. They didn't take notice of me, so I left. I took notice of the amount of the bill.
with advance notice
and on advance noticewith some kind of notification or indication that something is going to happen or is expected before it actually happens. We are happy to provide special meals for anyone with advance notice.
take note (of somebody/something)
to give someone or something your attention take notice (of somebody/something) Travelers who plan to leave next week should take note that there may be an airlines strike.
at a moment's notice
almost immediately Everyone was packed and ready to leave at a moment's notice.
Related vocabulary: at the drop of a hatgive notice (to somebody)
also give somebody notice1. to warn your employer that you will stop working Jones gave notice in October that he planned to leave at the end of the school year.
2. to tell an employee that they will no longer be employed The company didn't give its employees notice, they just sent everyone home and closed the plant.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of give notice (to give written or printed information)
on short notice
also at short notice with little warning It's hard to find someone to take care of the kids on short notice.
sit up and take notice
to suddenly give something your attention His election made even people who don't care about politics sit up and take notice.
take notice (of somebody/something)
to give someone or something your attention take note (of somebody/something) Voters are beginning to take notice of her as a serious candidate. Several professors took notice of her excellent grasp of the subject.
sit up
to stay awake past the time that you usually go to sleep We sat up talking half the night. Many nights I sat up until dawn, trying to get my term papers finished on time.
not take a blind bit of notice
(British & Australian informal) to not give someone or something any attention at all Protesters were shouting and waving banners outside the embassy, but no-one took a blind bit of notice. (often + of ) They didn't take a blind bit of notice of our objections.
make somebody sit up and take notice
to make someone suddenly notice something and become interested in it (often + of ) That was the record that made me sit up and take notice of Neil Hannon.
escape notice
Elude attention or observation, as in It must have escaped the editor's notice so I'll write again. [c. 1700]
give notice
1. Inform or warn someone of something, as in He's prompt about giving us notice of any discrepancy in the accounts. [Late 1500s]
2. Tell one's employer one is quitting, as in Our housekeeper gave notice last week. This usage, first recorded in 1765, originally alluded to any kind of termination, such as a housing lease, but today is most often used for leaving employment.
short notice, on
Also, at short notice. With little advance warning or time to prepare, as in They told us to be ready to move out on short notice. The noun notice here is used in the sense of "information" or "intelligence." [Late 1700s]
sit up
1. Rise to a sitting position from lying down, as in The sick child sat up and asked for a drink of water. [Early 1200s]
2. Stay up later than usual, as in The nurse sat up with her all night long. [Mid-1500s]
3. Sit with the spine erect, as in She was always telling the students to sit up. [Early 1700s]
4. Become suddenly alert, as in The students sat up when he brought up the test. The same sense appears in the related sit up and take notice, as in When he mentioned the arrival of a movie star, they all sat up and took notice. [Late 1800s]
take note
Also,
take notice. Pay attention, as in
Take note, not one man here is wearing a tie, or
The aide took notice of the boys throwing spitballs and reported them. An antonym is
take no notice of, meaning "ignore," as in
Take no notice of them and they'll stop teasing you. [Late 1500s] Also see
take notes.
sit up
v.1. To rise from lying down to a sitting position: The patient sat up for her meal.
2. To sit with the spine erect: The nanny told the children to sit up.
3. To stay up later than the customary bedtime: My parents sat up waiting for me to come home.
4. To become suddenly alert: The students sat up when the teacher mentioned the test.
take notice of
To pay attention to.