The phrase "comes home to" can be replaced by several other colloquial terms. One possible synonym is "dawns on," which means to become clear or understandable to someone. Another option is "hits home," which refers to something that suddenly resonates with a person's emotions or beliefs. "Sinks in" is another synonym, suggesting that someone has finally grasped the reality of a situation or understood a message. More formal synonyms for "comes home to" include "realizes" or "recognizes," which imply a more conscious process of understanding. Regardless of the phrasing, the idea is the same: a sudden, often emotional realization or understanding of something important.