turnoff
[tˈɚnˌɔf] /ˈtərn-ˌȯf How to pronounce turnoff (audio)/ (ame, mw)
turnoff — verb
- turnoffpresent simple I / you / we / they
- turnoffs3rd person singular
- turnoffing-ing form
- turnoffedpast simple
1. to stop a device, machine, light, or water flow from working by moving a switch,
to stop a device, machine, light, or water flow from working by moving a switch, button, or handle.
Lucía always turns off the kitchen light before going to bed.
turn off + noun phrase for a light or device
Cyrus turned off the tap while brushing his teeth to save water.
collocation: turn off the tap
The nurse turned off the heart monitor after the patient was moved.
My phone battery died because I forgot to turn off the flashlight.
The old computer was turned off and put away in the storage room.
- switch off
very similar, slightly more common for lights and small electronics
- shut off
emphasises stopping a flow of water, gas, or power at its source
- turn on
the opposite action — to make a device start working
文法句型
turn off + noun phrase (device, light, flow)
turn + pronoun + off
用法筆記
When the object is a pronoun (it, them), it must go between 'turn' and 'off': 'turn it off', NOT 'turn off it'. This pattern holds for all senses of this verb.
常見錯誤
2. to make someone stop feeling interested, excited, or willing to continue; or (wi
to make someone stop feeling interested, excited, or willing to continue; or (without an object) to stop being interested in something yourself.
The two-hour lecture about tax rules turned off most of the students.
transitive: event + turns off + person
Romi started the novel but turned off after the first fifty pages.
intransitive: [person] + turned off
His constant bragging about his wealth turned off everyone at the dinner table.
Vikram turned off from online dating after several unpleasant experiences.
The movie's slow beginning turned off many viewers in the cinema.
- bore
stronger; puts the fault on the thing or person being boring
- put off
similar register and meaning, but can also mean 'to discourage from doing'
- disenchant
more formal, implies deeper disappointment over time
文法句型
turn off + noun phrase (person who becomes bored)
turn off + from + noun phrase (lose interest in an activity)
turn off (without object — lose interest)
用法筆記
Common in informal conversation. In the intransitive use ('I turned off after ten minutes'), the subject was initially interested but gradually or suddenly lost that interest.
3. to remove someone from their job, typically because they have done something wro
to remove someone from their job, typically because they have done something wrong or their work is not satisfactory.
In the 1950s, the factory turned off workers when demand fell during the winter months.
dated use: factory + turned off + workers
The mine supervisor turned off a digger for arriving late three days in a row.
During the Great Depression, many plants turned off men with only a few hours' notice.
My grandfather was turned off from his job at the steel mill back in 1931.
文法句型
turn off + noun phrase (employee)
be turned off from + noun phrase (job)
用法筆記
(dated) This sense was used in the early-to-mid 20th century for dismissing employees. In modern English, 'fire', 'sack', or 'lay off' are far more common natural choices.
4. to get rid of goods, stock, or property by selling them, often at a reduced pric
to get rid of goods, stock, or property by selling them, often at a reduced price or in a hurry.
The general store turned off its woollen blankets before the spring stock arrived.
dated: turn off + stock/goods
In the 1940s, the hardware shop turned off old paint tins to clear the shelves.
The travelling salesman turned off his goods at every village along the railway route.
After the harvest, the farmer turned off the extra grain to local merchants.
- sell off
more common; implies selling the remaining goods at lower prices
- dispose of
more neutral — can mean selling or simply getting rid of
文法句型
turn off + noun phrase (goods, stock, property)
turn off + noun phrase + at + price
用法筆記
(dated) This is an older commercial usage. In modern English, 'sell off', 'clear out', or 'dispose of' are far more common for describing the sale of goods or stock.
5. to avoid dealing with a question, blame, or criticism directly by turning the di
to avoid dealing with a question, blame, or criticism directly by turning the discussion away from it; or to redirect something away from its original target.
The politician turned off every question about the missing funds during the interview.
figurative: turn off + question/topic
Pim managed to turn off the blame onto a junior colleague who was not present.
turn off + blame + onto + person
The CEO turned off the reporter's question with a vague statement about future plans.
Sofia turned off the criticism by pointing out that the error had already been corrected.
文法句型
turn off + noun phrase (blame, question, attack)
turn off + noun phrase + onto + noun phrase
用法筆記
Used figuratively to describe redirecting blame, questions, or criticism away from oneself or a sensitive topic. The literal physical-deflection sense (as with a shield) does not occur with 'turn off' in natural English.
6. to produce or make something, especially by manual or artisanal work such as pri
to produce or make something, especially by manual or artisanal work such as printing, woodworking, forging, or similar craft processes (rare, mostly historical use).
The writer's small press turned off only a few hundred copies of each poetry collection.
rare: turn off + copies/publications
In the early 1900s, this workshop turned off furniture for wealthy families across the county.
historical context: turned off + handcrafted goods
The old printing press turned off about two hundred newspapers in an hour.
The village blacksmith turned off iron gates and railings for the new manor house.
- destroy
to break or ruin completely
文法句型
turn off + noun phrase (result, work, output)
用法筆記
(rare) This sense is now very uncommon in modern English. 'Produce', 'turn out', and 'churn out' are far more common alternatives for this meaning. Its use today is largely limited to historical or literary contexts describing manual production.
7. to leave a main road or a straight path and go onto a different, usually smaller
to leave a main road or a straight path and go onto a different, usually smaller, road or direction
At the gas station, the driver turned off onto a narrow gravel road.
turn off + onto [road]
The main road turns off sharply to the left just beyond the old church.
Hikers should turn off at the oak tree and follow the stream toward the lake.
We turned off from the highway and followed the signs toward the coast.
The path turns off near the river and climbs up through a dense pine forest.
As the evening went on, the discussion turned off toward more serious topics.
- continue
to stay on the same road or path
文法句型
turn off + at [place]
turn off + from [road]
turn off + onto [road]
用法筆記
Often used with 'at,' 'from,' or 'onto' to indicate the point of departure or the new route. The figurative extension of this sense — a conversation or topic turning toward a new direction — is also attested, though less common than the literal road use.
常見錯誤
8. for food or drink to become rotten, sour, or no longer safe to consume
for food or drink to become rotten, sour, or no longer safe to consume
The milk turned off after sitting out of the refrigerator for the whole afternoon.
British variety: food turns off = goes bad
The leftover fish turned off in the summer heat before anyone could eat it.
If you do not keep butter in a cool place, it will turn off quickly.
The cream turned off because the kitchen was too warm and humid that week.
- stay fresh
remain in good condition
文法句型
turn off + (without object)
用法筆記
This is a chiefly British expression. In American English, 'go bad' or 'go off' is preferred for the same meaning.
9. to become or change to a particular state (archaic or dialectal use; in modern s
to become or change to a particular state (archaic or dialectal use; in modern standard English, 'turn' alone is used for this meaning)
'The weather turned off cold,' the elderly farmer said, using a phrase from his own grandfather's time.
archaic/dialectal pattern: turn off + adjective (cold) — not used in modern standard English
In some rural British dialects, older speakers might say the milk turned off sour instead of 'went sour'.
dialectal: turn off + adjective describing change of state
The old fisherman said the sea had turned off rough, an expression his father had used long ago.
In a letter from 1876, the farmer wrote that the river had turned off low after the long summer drought.
- remain
stay the same
文法句型
turn off + adjective (dated dialectal pattern)
用法筆記
(dated, dialectal) This sense is found in older British dialectal usage, but is not productive in modern standard English. In all varieties of contemporary English, the verb 'turn' alone (without 'off') is used for change-of-state descriptions: 'The sky turned gray', 'The weather turned cold', 'The sauce turned thick'. Learners should avoid using 'turn off' for this meaning in everyday speech or writing.
常見錯誤
turnoff — noun
1. a smaller road or lane that branches away from a main road or highway, used by v
a smaller road or lane that branches away from a main road or highway, used by vehicles to leave the main route
Brooke took the wrong turnoff and ended up driving through a small village.
The turnoff to the national park was not clearly marked on the main road.
passive: was not clearly marked
We almost missed the turnoff because it was hidden behind a large tree.
There is a turnoff about two kilometres ahead where drivers can stop for food.
Daichi pulled into the turnoff to check the map and stretch his legs.
常見錯誤
2. something that makes you feel less interested in or less willing to continue wit
something that makes you feel less interested in or less willing to continue with an activity, person, or situation
The loud music at the restaurant was a real turnoff for Soraya's family.
collocation: a real turnoff
For Amani, the biggest turnoff in a job listing is vague language about duties.
collocation: biggest turnoff
Cyrus found his colleague's habit of interrupting others a complete turnoff.
The strong smell of seafood was a turnoff, so they decided to eat elsewhere.
Ezra said the slow internet speed was a major turnoff when choosing a hotel.
- repellent
stronger and more formal, suggests active disgust
- disappointment
broader; not specifically about loss of interest
- put-off
British informal variant, interchangeable
- attraction
something that draws you in
- draw
something appealing or appealing quality
- magnet
informal, something very attractive
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives like real, big, major, or complete for emphasis. Common in informal conversation about personal preferences or dislikes.
常見錯誤
3. the action or process of stopping a machine, device, light, or supply of somethi
the action or process of stopping a machine, device, light, or supply of something such as water or power from operating
The automatic turnoff of the engine helps save fuel when the car is idle.
collocation: automatic turnoff
This electric kettle has a safety turnoff feature that switches off when the water boils.
collocation: safety turnoff feature
The turnoff of the main water supply took the repair team only a few minutes.
Iris set a timer for the turnoff of the garden lights at eleven o'clock.
- shutdown
broader, can apply to systems or computers
- switch-off
more informal, common in spoken English
- cut-off
specifically for a supply like water or gas
用法筆記
Typically used in technical or instructional contexts to describe stopping equipment from operating. More formal than 'turning off'.