What does it mean to be asleep at the switch?

Inattentive, not doing one’s job, as in At the critical moment the watchman was asleep at the switch and only called the fire department when it was too late.

Where did the phrase asleep at the switch come from?

Daydreaming or forgetting to do one’s job; a lapse in alertness. The term comes from American railroading, when trainmen were required to switch a train from one track to another. If they failed to do so at the right time, trains could collide.

What does it mean when something is asleep?

dormant; inactive. (of the foot, hand, leg, etc.) numb. dead.

What does fall asleep at the wheel mean?

not paying attention to problems or something that’s important. failing to fulfill one’s duties.

What does it mean at someone’s beck and call?

always ready
Definition of at someone’s beck and call : always ready to do whatever someone asks He expects his employees to be at his beck and call day and night.

Are you asleep already Meaning?

“Already asleep” means that the person is now sleeping, and is not available to talk. The person has already gone to sleep, is already asleep.

What is the meaning of bolt from blue?

Definition of bolt from the blue : a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.

What does threw cold water on mean?

to lessen the courage or confidence of. Her parents threw cold water on her dream of becoming a poet.

What does it mean to fall asleep at the switch?

(Alludes to a technician or engineer on a train sleeping instead of turning whatever switches are required. *Typically: be ~; fall ~.) The security guard fell asleep at the switch and a robber broke in. If I hadn’t been asleep at the switch, I’d have noticed the car being stolen. Also, asleep at the wheel.

Were voters ‘sleepy at the switch’?

Matthew Martinez (D-Calif.) claimed “voters were not asleep at the switch, but they were hoodwinked. “Bernie saw a Democratic machine in Burlington that was asleep at the switch. He knocked on a lot of doors and worked his head off and he just hit it right.”

Was Donald asleep at the switch when the call came in?

Donald was asleep at the switch when the call came in. McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Daydreaming or forgetting to do one’s job; a lapse in alertness.

What does it mean to be asleep at the wheel?

asleep at the ˈwheel (especially British English) (American Englishusually asleep at the ˈswitch) (informal) not paying attention to possible problems: The agency has been asleep at the wheel and has failed to enforce regulations. This refers to someone falling asleep while driving a car or while operating a control on a train track.

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