Switch off.. the lights?

I do not have any pictures this time round. Instead, I happened to recall a phrase that I often hear my friends saying, which gave me the idea of penning it down in this blog.

In this entry, I am going to consider the usage of the phrase switch off. A very common phrase. Doesn't look like there's anything special about it. BUT there is actually a very different priming of the phrase when local Singaporeans (or at least most of them) encounter this phrase.

The standard meaning of to switch off would probably be to turn off a certain power source, which the Dictionary.com defines as

Switch-off
the act or process of switching off a power supply, light source, appliance, etc.

It is kind of interesting that they are using the phrase switch off to explain the phrase itself though. = ="' Ok let's use the definition by the OED instead.

Switch-off
The turning off of an (electrical) power supply, television set, etc., by means of a switch.

As I mentioned earlier, some Singaporeans might have a different/additional priming of this phrase which is not standard. Instead of trying to phrase it myself, I have found an entry on it in the Singlish dictionary.


switch off v. & a. [Eng.] A v. Cease to be concerned about, stop putting effort into. B a. Also switched off. Of a job, work, etc.: requiring little effort or skill, easy, relaxed. Compare Senang. 2 Indifferent, not bothered, not caring. Compare Bo Chap.

¶ Opp. of switch on, switched on.
A 1985 Michael Chiang Army Daze 51 Switch off. To not bother at all. B 1 1994 C.S. Chong NS: An Air-Level Story 46 He actually aspired to the ultimate switch-off job – clerk, but his asthma excuse failed him. 58 I told my PC in the last interview to recommend me for a switch-off place. 67 Half the platoon were committed to this ‘switch-off’ sergeant. 84 Went for switch-off attachments. 2 1978 Leong Choon Cheong Youth in the Army 313 switched off. The opposite of ‘switched on’. A soldier who does not care anymore; does what he has to do and nothing more; will not bother himself. This is a common phenomenon with the soldiers whose RODs are approaching. An ‘ROD mood’ is a switched off, euphoric time.

Thus, we can observe here that a Singaporean will probably have a different understanding of the phrase switch off by knowing that it could also mean to be unconcerned about something. When encountered, this phrase would trigger both the standard and non-standard meaning, though depending on the context, only one will be triggered since the two meanings are very different.