seatbelt sign

Meaning

The seatbelt sign is an overhead light in an airplane that shows a picture of a fastened seatbelt. When this light is on, passengers must sit down and buckle their seatbelts for safety, usually during takeoff, landing, or turbulence. When it turns off, passengers are allowed to move around the cabin if necessary.

Examples

• The captain turned on the seatbelt sign because we are expecting some turbulence.

  The captain turned on the seatbelt sign because we are expecting some turbulence.

• Please remain in your seat until the seatbelt sign has been switched off.

  Please remain in your seat until the seatbelt sign has been switched off.

• I wanted to go to the restroom, but the seatbelt sign was still on.

  I wanted to go to the restroom, but the seatbelt sign was still on.

• You can hear a dinging sound every time the seatbelt sign turns on or off.

  You can hear a dinging sound every time the seatbelt sign turns on or off.

• Even when the seatbelt sign is off, it is safer to keep your belt fastened while seated.

  Even when the seatbelt sign is off, it is safer to keep your belt fastened while seated.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The belt sign is on.

  ✓ The seatbelt sign is on.

  While understandable, native speakers almost always use the full compound noun 'seatbelt sign' in aviation contexts.

• ✗ Look at the seatbelt signal.

  ✓ Look at the seatbelt sign.

  A 'signal' is an action or event that sends a message, whereas 'sign' refers to the physical light fixture on the plane.

Related Expressions

Practice

• As the plane started to shake, the pilot switched on the ___.

  💡 The light above your seat telling you to buckle up.

  Show answer

  seatbelt sign

• You must stay seated as long as the ___ is illuminated.

  💡 The visual safety indicator in the airplane cabin.

  Show answer

  seatbelt sign