Dictionary

switch off en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• (UK) audio

Meanings

1. (transitive) To stop or disable a device by turning a switch or a lever.
   • To switch off the instrument when the clockwork is not wound up, and to remind the subscriber of doing so, there is provided an indicator, x, which is worked in the following manner. 1893, The Electrical Review, volume 32, page 554:
   • We have found that a patrolman in the central section of the city can switch on, and later switch off, 100 signs with ease. 1906, National Electric Light Association, National Electric Light Association Twenty-Ninth Convention, page 420:
   • He began shutting down the flight controls, switching off all the things he'd switched on before, switching on all the things he'd switched off. 2001, David Gerrold, Bouncing Off the Moon, page 208:
2. (idiomatic) To lose interest, and start thinking about something else.
   • Fulham switched off as Giggs took a quick corner to Valencia. He played it back to Giggs, whose cross was headed in by Nani with the lurking Rooney unable to add a touch. 2011 December 21, Tom Rostance, “Fulham 0 - 5 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:
   • While you are pregnant with the desire for the car, the house or anything, try to switch off your mind to avoid brainstorming any solutions. 2013, Ashbel Vudzijena, Success is a CALLING!, page 82:
   • In short, the Bible is used by many, believers and atheists alike, as a book best handled only after switching off your brain. 2015, Simon Taylor, How To Read The Bible (without switching off your brain):
3. (idiomatic, intransitive) To alternate between; to trade.
   • Besides Crow belting out "Bitch," the concert featured several artists switching off on lead vocals 1997 February 1, Billboard, volume 109, number 5, page 84:
   • Do you eat all your peas and then all your potatoes, or do you switch off between them as you go?
   • Freddie gave me a quick five-minute lesson on handling Cherry Pie and we switched off between sleeping and driving. 2014, Samantha Verant, King of the Mutants:
   • "We haven't a musket, and Tommy's crowd are well armed. They have the inside track" "Then we can switch off." "Switch off?" "Yes, and take the inside track." 1869, Oliver Optic, Switch Off; or, the War of the Students:

Forms

Antonyms

switch on

Deriveds

unswitchoffable

Synonyms

turn off (stop, disable) · power down (stop, disable)

Translations (54)

km បិទ (turn switch to off position) · fi vuorotella (to alternate between) · mi whakaweto (turn switch to off position) · de abschalten (turn switch to off position) · cs vypnout (turn switch to off position) · io ekswichar (turn switch to off position) · ro dezlega (turn switch to off position) · bcl palsok (turn switch to off position) · ka გამორთვა (turn switch to off position) · fr éteindre (turn switch to off position) · ja 切る (turn switch to off position) · ru выключа́ть (turn switch to off position) · el σβήνω (turn switch to off position) · ca apagar (turn switch to off position) · pt desligar (turn switch to off position) · cmn 關掉 /关掉 (turn switch to off position) · cmn 關 /关 (turn switch to off position) · ga cuir as (turn switch to off position) · it spegnere (turn switch to off position) · de ausschalten (turn switch to off position) · be выключаць (turn switch to off position) · jv mateni (turn switch to off position) · da slukke (turn switch to off position) · eo elŝalti (turn switch to off position) · nl uitzetten (turn switch to off position) · ro deconecta (turn switch to off position) · pl wyłączyć (turn switch to off position) · vi tắt (turn switch to off position) · th ดับ (turn switch to off position) · tr kapatmak (turn switch to off position) · yi אויסלעשן (turn switch to off position) · he כיבה (turn switch to off position) · hu kikapcsol (to lose interest) · ro separa (turn switch to off position) · yue 關 /关 (turn switch to off position) · hy անջատել (turn switch to off position) · lt išjungti (turn switch to off position) · es desconectar (to lose interest) · sv stänga av (turn switch to off position) · fi kytkeä pois päältä (turn switch to off position) · ga múch (turn switch to off position) · fi sammuttaa (turn switch to off position) · ru вы́ключить (turn switch to off position) · fi kytkeä pois päältä (to lose interest) · nl uitschakelen (turn switch to off position) · th ปิด (turn switch to off position) · ja 消す (turn switch to off position) · lv izslēgt (turn switch to off position) · hu lekapcsol (turn switch to off position) · ko 끄다 (turn switch to off position) · pl wyłączać (turn switch to off position) · es apagar (turn switch to off position) · hu kikapcsol (turn switch to off position) · ka გამოთიშვა (turn switch to off position)