What do you call it?

kaos16 · August 2016

What do you call it when you manually press a button, pull a string, or move a switch to cause a lit room to become dark?

I was standing with a coworker yesterday when she asked someone to "close the light" Is that a common expression? I have never heard it before.

holyguacamole79 · August 2016

Turn off the light

cupcait927 · August 2016

I say "turn off". Never heard anyone say "close the light".

CharmedPam · August 2016

"flip" or "turn off" yup. Often times I mix up words though, and then just pretend that it's my "own little quirk" to not admit fault. Maybe she used the wrong word?

WinstonsGirl · August 2016

I've used close the light on occasion (though I usually say turn off), but that's often how it's said in French, so I think it's my brain switching between the two. And if I remember correctly, I think a lot of my flatmates in England used the expression, so maybe it's more of a European thing?

AddieCake · August 2016

I say "turn off" or "turn on."

kvruns · August 2016

never heard close the light, always say turn off/on or flip the switch

kaos16 · August 2016

CharmedPam said:

"flip" or "turn off" yup. Often times I mix up words though, and then just pretend that it's my "own little quirk" to not admit fault. Maybe she used the wrong word?

She said people always make fun of her for saying it, so I think it's a common occurrence.

I was guessing it might be a regional thing, because even though we are from the same area it could be a family thing from someone coming from elsewhere.

Who knows! I just thought it was interesting.

bleve0821 · August 2016

"make it dark," but, then, I'm a child.

MissKittyDanger · August 2016

I've heard "close the light" from older family, so I think it's just an older saying.

SaintPaulGal · August 2016

Can't say I've heard that one.

I'd say I'm about 50/50 between "turn off the lights" and "hit the lights." I occasionally say "flip the lights," but just now in answering this posit I have realized that I only use that when I want the lights to be turned on. How weird is that?!

emmaaa · August 2016

I'm 50/50 between "cut the lights off" or "turn off the lights"

ei34 · August 2016

I would call what you described "turning off the light".
DH's family's first language isn't English and neither was my childhood best friend's mom- they all say "close the light". So I've always associated the phrase with people who are English language learners. Not sure if your coworker is in that group though.

short+sassy · August 2016

AtomicBlonde said:

"make it dark," but, then, I'm a child.

Like most, I typically say "turn off/turn on". But I've said "make it dark" if I'm not feeling well (or have a hangover) and it is any light that is bothering me.

I've never heard "close the light".

The one I get teased about is using the word "freeway" instead of "highway". I grew up in So CA and always called them "freeways". But apparently here in NOLA, people call them "highways". I've actually had people I've just met ask me where I'm originally from because I use "freeway". I don't notice either one.

InLoveInQueens · August 2016

I'll tell someone to "shut the light", I've learned that's super regional but people here in NYC/on LI know what I mean/say it that way too.

glasgowtolondon · August 2016

Hit the lights.

I'm with @CharmedPam maybe she just misspoke.

MairePoppy · August 2016

I turn off, turn out or shut off the lights.

MyNameIsNot · August 2016

I turn off the lights.

My husband says close the light. His first language is Spanish, and he says it's from there.

Greenjinjo · August 2016

@glasgowtolondon in the stylings of Metallica?

PaperTigersx · August 2016

What about this one:

to put something back in its rightful place

i say "put it away." FI grew up in the south and says "put it up."
The first time he used this saying, we had just moved in together and were unpacking. In regards to the coffee maker he asked me "did you put it up yet?"
I was so confused! I said "put it up where?! Don't people put them away on the counter, not in the overhead cabinets?"

IrishPirate60 · August 2016

PaperTigersx said:

What about this one:

to put something back in its rightful place

i say "put it away." FI grew up in the south and says "put it up."
The first time he used this saying, we had just moved in together and were unpacking. In regards to the coffee maker he asked me "did you put it up yet?"
I was so confused! I said "put it up where?! Don't people put them away on the counter, not in the overhead cabinets?"

But people "put up preserves," right?

IrishPirate60 · August 2016

The one I get teased about is using the word "freeway" instead of "highway". I grew up in So CA and always called them "freeways". But apparently here in NOLA, people call them "highways". I've actually had people I've just met ask me where I'm originally from because I use "freeway". I don't notice either one.

There's a difference between "freeways" and "highways." Even in So CA, there's the Pacific Coast Highway or 101, then there's the I-5 or the I-10, right?

I think in NOLA some of the naming is a holdover from what the road was before it became an interstate.

(And now I'm thinking of that list that makes the rounds every now and then that begins with "Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway?")

drunkenwitch · August 2016

I often say "hit the light". Or it's turn off or turn on.

charlottesmom0626 · August 2016

InLoveInQueens said:

I'll tell someone to "shut the light", I've learned that's super regional but people here in NYC/on LI know what I mean/say it that way too.

this: my parents are from NYC so I say shut the light; my southern husband finds this hilarious.

glasgowtolondon · August 2016

Greenjinjo said:

@glasgowtolondon in the stylings of Metallica?

We've got the metal madness

db1984 · August 2016

The only person I ever heard say "close the light" was a cousin who was visiting from California. We were only 11 at the time and he'd grown up there so I just assumed it was a CA thing.

Funny about the highway/freeway thing. NJ and PA have their turnpikes, NY has the thruway (toll road) and (Western NY at least) expressways. Highways here are generally 2 or 4 lane roadways that allow speeds of 55 mph, the difference from an expressway being that highways will have stoplights.

ei34 · August 2016

charlottesmom0626 said:

InLoveInQueens said:

I'll tell someone to "shut the light", I've learned that's super regional but people here in NYC/on LI know what I mean/say it that way too.

this: my parents are from NYC so I say shut the light; my southern husband finds this hilarious.

Lol. Queens girl born and raised...my family and I say turn off the light but I hear "shut the light" from time to time. I love the say-what-you-mean-and-keep-going style of talk in Queens and LI. I swear when I'm in other parts of the country time stands still as I try to have conversations with people

emmaaa · August 2016

PaperTigersx said:

What about this one:

to put something back in its rightful place

i say "put it away." FI grew up in the south and says "put it up."
The first time he used this saying, we had just moved in together and were unpacking. In regards to the coffee maker he asked me "did you put it up yet?"
I was so confused! I said "put it up where?! Don't people put them away on the counter, not in the overhead cabinets?"

I'm from the South and I have always said "put it up" also.

SaintPaulGal · August 2016

I definitely put things away rather than up, unless it is going somewhere specific that is physically up. ("Did you put away the serving bowls?" "Yes, I put them up on the top shelf.")

I am familiar with putting up as reference to preserving food, predominantly in cans ("I put up two dozen quarts of tomato sauce this year"), but it sounds super old-fashioned. ("Gee willikers! Putting up jam is the bees knees!") Even grandparent-aged people just say "canning."

Back to the lights...I've never heard just "shut the lights," but "shut OFF the lights" is common. And people here tend to use highway and freeway pretty interchangeably and with equivalent frequency.

The regionalism that shocked me to my core when I learned it a few years ago is this: THE REST OF YOU DON'T HAVE A WORD FOR BARS! Like, the massive category of dessert that includes lemon bars/rice krispie bars/brownies/etc, etc, etc. How is that possible?

WinstonsGirl · August 2016

SaintPaulGal said:

I definitely put things away rather than up, unless it is going somewhere specific that is physically up. ("Did you put away the serving bowls?" "Yes, I put them up on the top shelf.")

I am familiar with putting up as reference to preserving food, predominantly in cans ("I put up two dozen quarts of tomato sauce this year"), but it sounds super old-fashioned. ("Gee willikers! Putting up jam is the bees knees!") Even grandparent-aged people just say "canning."

Back to the lights...I've never heard just "shut the lights," but "shut OFF the lights" is common. And people here tend to use highway and freeway pretty interchangeably and with equivalent frequency.

The regionalism that shocked me to my core when I learned it a few years ago is this: THE REST OF YOU DON'T HAVE A WORD FOR BARS! Like, the massive category of dessert that includes lemon bars/rice krispie bars/brownies/etc, etc, etc. How is that possible?

Squares. But it's a disappointing dessert for me. More like a dessert side to the main attraction of cake

redwoodoriginal · August 2016

eileenrob said:

charlottesmom0626 said:

InLoveInQueens said:

I'll tell someone to "shut the light", I've learned that's super regional but people here in NYC/on LI know what I mean/say it that way too.

this: my parents are from NYC so I say shut the light; my southern husband finds this hilarious.

Lol. Queens girl born and raised...my family and I say turn off the light but I hear "shut the light" from time to time. I love the say-what-you-mean-and-keep-going style of talk in Queens and LI. I swear when I'm in other parts of the country time stands still as I try to have conversations with people

Born and raised on LI and I have never ever heard someone say shut the light... Ever.

What do you call it?

Re: What do you call it?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards