Her dream of competing in the Olympics became a 'reality'. [=she competed in the Olympics, as she had dreamed of doing]
He was starting to think he was infallible, so the criticism from his boss served as a 'reality check'.
Her friends gave her a 'reality check' about her boyfriend. [=told her the truth about her boyfriend]
(..) Everything I ever had is... ...is going with her. Oh, Ashley. You really love her, don't you? She's the only dream I ever had that didn't die in the face of reality. Dreams! Always dreams with you, never common sense. Oh, Scarlett! lf you knew what I've gone through! (..)1939 Gone with the Wind