| 词组 | asleep at the switch |
| 释义 | Idiom asleep at the switch Theme: FAILURE not attending to one's job; failing to do one's duty at the proper time.The guard was asleep at the switch when the robber broke in.If I hadn't been asleep at the switch, I'd have seen the stolen car. Slang asleep at the switch Theme: ATTENTION - LACKING mod. inattentive to duty. (Not literal.)Donald was asleep at the switch when the call came in.He sat there reading—asleep at the switch as usual. Idiom asleep at the switch not paying attention.Health experts were asleep at the switch when the disease began to spread rapidly again. Etymology: based on the idea of someone going to sleep while they are responsible for operating the switch (= device) that allows a train to move from one track to another asleep at the switchFailing to attend to one's responsibilities or duties; not doing or paying attention to that which is important or for which one is responsible. Johnson was supposed to make sure the paperwork went through before the deadline, but it looks like he was asleep at the switch. *asleep at the switchFig. not attending to one's job; failing to do one's duty at the proper time. (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. asleep at the switchAlso, asleep at the wheel. 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 . This term came from 19th-century American railroading, when it was the trainman's duty to switch cars from one track to another by means of manually operated levers. Should he fail to do so, trains could collide. It was later transferred to any lack of alertness. The wheel in the variant is a steering wheel; similarly disastrous results are implied. asleep at the switch mod. inattentive to duty. (Not literal.) Donald was asleep at the switch when the call came in. asleep at the switchDaydreaming 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. |
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