Fog horns have long been used on ships as low, powerful warning signals that carry through mist, and their sheer volume made them a natural joke alarm online. Short clips of a single sustained blast began circulating on soundboards and in prank videos as the ultimate wake up sound, louder and more absurd than a normal clock buzzer. Creators adopted it for sleep, school and work edits, and it remains popular because one blast instantly communicates being startled awake without any dialogue or explanation needed.