switch (redirected from switching off)

*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.

See also: asleep

bait and switch

Fig. a deceptive merchandising practice where one product is advertised at a low price to get people's attention [the bait], but pressure is applied to get the customer to purchase a more expensive item. Walter described how the store used bait and switch, since they never seemed to have in stock the bargains that they advertised. Wilbur accused the merchant of bait and switch practices and stalked out of the store.

See also: and, bait

switch (around) (with someone or something)

to exchange or trade with someone or something. (The optional elements cannot be transposed.) I liked Jill's lunch, and she liked mine, so I switched around with her. I liked Jill's, and she liked mine, so we switched around with each other.

switch someone or something around

to change, swing, or turn someone or something. I was prepared for a late flight out of Miami, but they switched me around at the last minute. They switched around my flights.

See also: around

switch someone or something off

to cause someone or something to be quiet or stop doing something. I got tired of listening to her, so I punched the button and switched her off. I switched off the television set.

switch someone or something over to someone or something

to transfer electronically a signal from someone or something to someone or something else. Tom is on the line. Shall I switch him over to Jeff? Please switch the call over to my other line.

switch someone or something over to something

to reassign, change, or convert someone or something to something. They switched me over to a later flight. I want to switch my furnace over to gas.

switch someone or something through

to connect someone or something with something else. I will switch you through the priority network. The operator switched the call through.

See also: through

switch something (from something) (in)to something

to change something from one thing into another. The magician switched the silk scarf from red into green. I would love to be able to switch lead into gold.

switch something back (to something)

to return something to the way it was. I switched the television back to the previous channel. I switched back the channel to what I was watching before.

See also: back

switch something on

to close an electrical circuit that causes something to start functioning or operating. Please switch the fan on. I switched on the fan.

switch something out

to remove something from an electrical circuit to turn it off. Please switch the light out. I switched out the light.

See also: out

switch something over (to something)

to convert something to something else. We are switching our furnace over to gas. We switched over our furnace to gas.

switch something to (something else)

to change something to something else. It was hot so I switched the thermostat from heating to cooling. Mary switched the controls to automatic so she wouldn't have to worry about them constantly.

switch around

to change, swing, or turn around. The horse switched around and ran the other way. I switched around and sat looking the other way for a while.

See also: around

switch back (to something)

1. to return to using or doing something. I decided to switch back to my old shampoo. I switched back and was glad I did.

2. [for a road] to reverse upon itself. The mountain road switched back twenty times in three miles. It switched back every now and then.

See also: back

switch from someone (to someone else)

to change one's choice from one person to another. I had chosen Jeff, but I will switch from him to Judy. Tom wanted to try a new barber, so he switched from Nick to Bruno.

switch from something (to something else)

to change one's choice from one thing to another. We switched from oil to gas heat in our house. I don't like to switch from one brand to another.

switch into something

to change [one's clothes] into something else. Let me switch into something a little more dressy if we are going to a nice restaurant. I have to switch into something more comfortable.

switch off 

1. Lit. [for something] to turn itself off. At midnight, all the lights switched off automatically. The television switched off after I went to sleep.

2. Fig. [for someone] to stop paying attention; to become oblivious to everything. I got tired of listening and switched off. You could see that the audience was switching off.

switch on 

1. [for something] to turn itself on. Exactly at midnight, the lights switched on. The radio switched on early in the morning to wake us up.

2. Sl. [for someone] to become alert or excited. The wild music made all the kids switch on and start to dance. About midnight, Ed switches on and becomes a real devil.

switch over (to someone or something)

to change to or choose someone or something else. That newscaster is too contentious. Switch over to another station. Okay, I'll switch over.

switch to something

to change to something. I am going to switch to a cheaper brand of tissues. We switched to a different long-distance telephone company to save some money.

switched on 

1. Sl. alert and up-to-date; with it. My brother is switched on and has lots of friends. I'm not switched on. In fact, I am pretty dull.

2. Sl. excited. I get switched on by that kind of music. I am never switched on by raucous music.

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be asleep at the switch  (American)

if someone is asleep at the switch, they are not ready to act quickly to avoid problems and do their job well Let's face it, if employees were stealing all that money, then management was asleep at the switch.

See also: asleep

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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

See also: asleep

shift gears also switch gears

to suddenly change what you are doing I'd like to shift gears now and talk about a personal concern.

Etymology: based on the idea that a vehicle will change speed when you change gears (machine parts)

See also: gear, shift