Skype English School

1. turn ... off p.v. When you turn off an electrical or mechanical device, you change the controls to stop it from producing or doing something. Turn on is the opposite of turn off. Switch off and shut off are similar to turn off.

Would you turn the light off? I want to go to bed.

When I'm driving and have to wait for a long freight train to pass, I always turn my car off.

turned off part.adj. After you have changed the controls of an electrical or mechani¬cal device to stop it from producing or doing something, it is turned off. Turned on is the opposite of turned off. Switched off and shut off are similar to turned off.

l can't see anything — the lights are turned off.

 

2. turn ... off p.v. [informal] Something that turns you off offends you and causes you to lose interest in something or someone. Something about a person of the opposite sex that turns you off causes you to lose sexual or romantic interest in that person. Turn on is the opposite of turn off.

When I met Dan I thought he was a nice guy, but his racist comments turned me off.

I got turned off when she lit a cigarette.

turned off part.adj. When something about a person of the opposite sex causes you to lose sexual or romantic interest in that person, you are turned off. Turned on is the opposite of turned off.

What's wrong with Nicole? She was having a good time with Frank a little while ago, but now she seems kind of turned off.                                            

turnoff n. Something that offends you and causes you to lose interest in something or someone is a turnoff. Something about a person of the opposite sex that causes you to lose sexual or romantic interest in that person is a turnoff. A turn-on is the opposite of a turnoff.

l don't like tattoos. To me they're a real turnoff.

 

3. turn off p.v. When you turn off a road or path that you are traveling on, you leave it and start to travel on another road or path. When a road or path leaves another road or path and travels in a different direction, it turns off,

Be careful you don't turn off the main road — you'll get lost.

The path to the cabin turns off just after the big tree stump.

turnoff n. A road or path that leaves another road or path and travels in a different direction is a turnoff.

We're lost — I think we should have taken that turnoff we passed a few miles back.

 

Infinitive

present tense              -ing form    past tense    past participle

turn on & turns on    turning on   turned on     turned on

 

1. turn ... on p.v. When you turn on an electrical or mechanical device, you change the controls to make it start producing or doing something. Turn off is the opposite of turn on. Switch on is the same as turn on.

Can you turn the light on please? It's dark in here.

This October has been so warm that I haven't turned the heat on once yet.

turned on part.adj. After you have changed the controls of an electrical or mechani¬cal device to make it start producing or doing something, it is turned on. Turned off is the opposite of turned on. Switched on is similar to turned on.

Be careful of the stove — it's turned on. 

 

2. turn ... on p.v. [informal] Something that turns you on pleases you and causes you to gain interest in something or someone. Something about a person of the opposite sex that turns you on causes you to become sexually or romantically interested in that  erson. Turn off is the opposite of turn on.

When I saw this house from the outside, I didn't think I would buy it, but the beautiful woodwork inside really turned me on.

Erik's blue eyes turn on his wife.

turned on part.adj. When something about a person of the opposite sex causes you to become sexually or romantically interested in that person, you are turned on. Turned off is the opposite of turned on.

Paul was really turned on after seeing all the beautiful women in the Victoria's Secret catalog.

 turn-on n. Something that pleases you and causes you to gain interest in something or someone is a turn-on. Something about a person of the opposite sex that causes you to become sexually or romantically interested in that person is a turn-on. A turnoff is the opposite of a turn-on.

l bought my wife an ankle bracelet for Valentines Day; I think they're a turn-on.

 

3. turn on p.v. When people or animals that you had good relations with turn on you, they stop being friendly and try to hurt you.

Lydia used to be my friend, but now she's telling people terrible things about me.

I wonder why she turned on me like that?

Wild animals don't make good pets. They can be friendly one minute and turn on you the next.

 

4. turn... on (to) p.v. [informal] When you turn people on to something, you tell them about something you think they will like or something that will help them.

Maria turned me on to a great Colombian restaurant.

This was a good book. Thanks for turning me on to it.