switch on

Meaning

To start the flow of electricity to a device, appliance, or light, usually by pressing a button, flipping a switch, or using a remote control.

Examples

• As soon as I walk into the living room, I switch on the radio.

  As soon as I walk into the living room, I switch on the radio.

• Can you switch on the air conditioner? It is getting really hot in here.

  Can you switch on the air conditioner? It is getting really hot in here.

• He switched on his laptop to check his morning emails.

  He switched on his laptop to check his morning emails.

• The streetlights switch on automatically when it gets dark outside.

  The streetlights switch on automatically when it gets dark outside.

• She switched on the microphone before starting her presentation.

  She switched on the microphone before starting her presentation.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Switch on the water tap, please.

  ✓ Turn on the water tap, please.

  While 'turn on' works for both water and electricity, 'switch on' is strictly for things operated by an electrical switch.

• ✗ I switched on the fire in the fireplace.

  ✓ I lit the fire in the fireplace.

  'Switch on' cannot be used for lighting natural wood fires, though it works for electric fireplaces.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Could you please ___ the lights? It is too dark to read.

  💡 Activate the electrical light.

  Show answer

  switch on

• I always ___ my coffee machine first thing in the morning.

  💡 Start the appliance.

  Show answer

  switch on