{v. phr.}, {informal} To be surprised into noticing something. * /Grace had never impressed her teachers. Hearing that she had won the essay contest made them sit up and take notice./ * /George's sudden success made the town sit up and take notice./
SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE
Meaning of SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE in English
Slang English vocab. Английский сленговый словарь. 2012