DAWN (UP)ON SOMEONE

dawn (up)on someone: translation

Fig.[for a fact] to become apparent to someone; [for something] to be suddenly realized by someone. (

Upon

is formal and less commonly used than

on

.) •

Then it dawned upon me that I was actually going to have the job.

•

On the way home, it dawned on me that I had never returned your call, so when I got home I called immediately.