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asleep at the switch |
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*asleep at the switch
Fig. not attending to one's job; failing to do one's duty at the proper time. (Alludes to a technician or engineer on a train sleeping instead of turning whatever switches are required. *Typically: be ~; fall ~.) The security guard fell asleep at the switch and a robber broke in. If I hadn't been asleep at the switch, I'd have noticed the car being stolen. asleep at the switch not paying attention asleep at the wheel Health experts were asleep at the switch when the disease began to spread rapidly again. Etymology: based on the idea of someone going to sleep while they are responsible for operating the switch (device) that allows a train to move from one track to another Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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During the last 10-plus years, I have lost count of the number of dollars I have received due to class-action lawsuits, won in large part because the board was asleep at the switch and allowed mismanagement or fraud to go on. Hitting hard at the Prime Minister, she said: "The Harper government was asleep at the switch, allowing the legislation infringing on women's rights - even legalizing marital rape - to pass through the Afghan parliament, without comment, not even noticing until it was too late. And that the Times and the Post were asleep at the switch. |
asleep at the switch |
Aslan, Anna Aslanbek Dzhemaldinovich Sheripov Aslanbek Sheripov aslant aslant ASLAP ASLAPR ASLAR Aslaug Áslaug ASLAV ASLB ASLBM ASLBP ASLC ASLCC ASLCCS ASLCM ASLCS ASLD ASLDF ASLE ASLEC asleep asleep asleep asleep asleep asleep Asleep At the Keyboard asleep at the switch Asleep at the WheelAsleep at the Wheel Asleep at the Wheel Asleep at the Wheel Asleep at the Wheel Asleep On Keyboard ASLEF ASLEF ASLEP ASLET ASLF ASLFS Aslg ASLH ASLHA ASLHC ASLHK ASLHM ASLHN ASLI Asli and Kerem Asli Badriddinovich Burkhanov Asli Burkhanov ASLIA ASLIB ASLIB Aslib Economics and Business Information Group Aslib Social Science Information Group and Network ASLIC ASLIE | |||||
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