a poll, because it was pointed out to me and now I'm curious...

[lagilman]

[Poll #1157526]

I've discovered I use both, depending on the situation and who I'm talking to, which is...odd. I'm assuming "turn off" is the more common variation, but I can't figure out where I picked up the other... is this an East Coast thing? A Jersey thing? A "we've only spoken English for three generations" remnant of Yiddish being the common lingua of earlier generations?

(further conversation suggestions that it's an older usage, having to do with drawing curtains/turning down a lantern as much as turning 'off' electrical lights. Ah, language, how you do evolve....)

EtA: "Turn out" is getting some votes, too, and one for "shut the light." Hrmmmm...

Comments

[davidlevine]

I might use both, but they mean completely different things. "Shut out the light" means doing something to prevent existing light from entering, like drawing a curtain. "Turn off the light" means doing something to prevent the light from existing, like turning off the power.

If you meant "shut off" rather than "shut out", as indicated in the text... well, I personally would not use "shut off" to refer to light, only water or gas. I think it has to do with a "shutter" being a physical object that interferes with the flow of something (fluid, gas, or even light), whereas with electricity you don't prevent its flow by placing a shutter in the way, you prevent it from flowing in the first place.

You might "shut off" the electricity to a whole house (by analogy with water and gas), but even in that context I think I'd write "turn off." But I don't think I'd ever write "shut off" a single lightbulb.

[thecityofdis.livejournal.com]

I agree with this - also, the context I usually associate with "shut out" is as in a sports team.

[booraven22.livejournal.com]

Weirdly enough, we always use "Hit the lights, wouldja?" With no on/off designation to be found.

Maybe it's a Midwest affectation.
Or maybe it's just our dorky thing. :)

[signeh.livejournal.com]

To me, shut out the light would be a request to close a curtain or window blinds; turn off the light implies you're flipping an electrical switch that controls artificial illumination.

[lagilman]

Yeah, that's probably where it comes from (see above addendum). But it gets used occasionally around here to refer to artificial lights, too. Which is why I was curious to see if I could track down any kind of pattern of usage.

[mt-yvr.livejournal.com]

I've no idea why in heaven's name this is true but turn off the light is a mundane, daily comment. Shut out the light evokes closing curtains and mourning.

Do not ask me why. But I've just always had a random association with that phrase being slightly sad.

[kradical.livejournal.com]

I vacillate between "turn off" and "turn out," actually,so I picked "something else."

[lagilman]

okay, "turn out" is just weird. You turn out livestock, not lights! *grin*

[spiziks.livejournal.com]

A regionalism, perhaps? I say, "Turn out the light."

[thecityofdis.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'd say it, but I certainly wouldn't blink if someone said it to me. Sounds totally normal.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

This doesn't sound weird to me at all.

[ilvack.livejournal.com]

I put something else because I tend to use both. when I was down South, I recall saying "shut off" most of the time. Now that I'm up in Washington I hear "Turn off" much more often, and tend to say that about 40% of the time.

[chibiaingeal.livejournal.com]

Hmm...Apparently I don't live far south enough as I've very rarly heard "shut off"... :)

[0eris0.livejournal.com]

A popular from my clan is "open the light" or "close the light." That came from using the wrong verb when people were learning English.

[lagilman]

Ah-hah! Support for my "we're all strangers here ourselves" theory! I wonder what the phrase would be in the various Old Countries....

(Marina? How does it translate from the Russian? Anyone here speak Latvian?)

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

I was just going to say, "Open the light" and "Close the light" were everywhere in my childhood in the French-Canadian mill town I grew up in. My mom (the proper Bostonian English teacher) had to practically beat the phrase out of me ... :}

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

Oh, and in German the direct translation is "open" and "close" the lights too...

[ianrandalstrock.livejournal.com]

Turn off the light, definitely, but occasionally shut the light. "shut out" is definitely a sleep mask thing, not a command.

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

I use "turn out"

[chibiaingeal.livejournal.com]

I either turn off the lights or turn out the lights.

I don't think shut out is an east coast thing since I've lived my entire life on the east coast.

Or maybe you are hearkening back to a past life by using the older version? ;-)

[infiniteviking]

I'd say "turn off", "turn out", or "put out" the lights, but always "shut off" rather than "shut out". "Kill the lights" works too, if one is in a Mood. ;D

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

I say "turn off" or "turn out," but "shut the light" has probably come out of my mouth once or twice, too.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I use "shut off" and "turn off" and "turn out" all interchangeably.

[wood-dragon.livejournal.com]

I've always used "shut off".

[delkytlar.livejournal.com]

"Shut off the light" is common in Brooklyn (though we also sometimes add a seven-letter-word-starting-with-F before light when we are really tired).

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

I had a roommate (who was daughter of Italian immigrants) who always said "close the light".

[bentleywg.livejournal.com]

"Turn off the light."
"Turn out the light."
"Turn if off!"
Those three mean to change the switch from the on to the off position.

To "shut out the light" means to go to extra effort to block the light entering the room.

Obviously, your mileage may vary. In this case, I would be very surprised if your answers were completely different from mine.

[tezmilleroz.livejournal.com]

I voted for "turn off", but I also say "switch off".

Have a lovely day! :-)

Navy-style

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

"Secure that lamp damnit!"

Re: Navy-style

[handlebar605.livejournal.com]

then don't even think of lighting the "Smoking Lamp"

Re: Navy-style

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

The smoking lamp is always lit shipmate. ;)

Re: Navy-style

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

What's a "smoking lamp"?

Re: Navy-style

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

From the Navy Historical Website:
From the square-rigger days, a lamp from which personnel could light their pipes or cigars.The smoking lamp was a safety measure. It was devised mainly to keep the fire hazard away from highly combustible woodwork and gunpowder. Most navies established regulations restricting smoking to certain areas. Usually, the lamp was located in the forecastle or the area directly surrounding the galley indicting that smoking was permitted in this area. Even after the invention of matches in the 1830s, the lamp was an item of convenience to the smoker. When particularly hazardous operations or work required that smoking be curtailed, the unlighted lamp relayed the message. "The smoking lamp is lighted" or "the smoking lamp is out' were the expressions indicating that smoking was permitted or forbidden.
The smoking lamp has survived only as a figure of speech. When the officer of the deck says "the smoking lamp is out" before drills, refueling or taking ammunition, that is the Navy's way of saying "cease smoking."

It's a carry-over of tradition to still say the "smoking lamp is lit/out" today. The smoking lamp is generally lit unless the BRAVO Flag is flying meaning fuel or ordinance loading is in progress...or the CO is really, really pissed.

Re: Navy-style

[lagilman]

That's our neutronjockey, informative as well as decorative!

Re: Navy-style

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

We now return this journal back to the original owner.

Sorry LAG. :(

Re: Navy-style

[lagilman]

whyfor sorry? check my "interests" list and you'll see 'research junkie" up there. New info always welcome here!

Re: Navy-style

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

He is, ins't he? ;-)

Please shut the light

[(Anonymous)]

Growing up overseas, in the Middle East to be exact, I have to say that the most common one I heard in English was to, "Please shut the light." or to "Close the light."

I believe that is what it loosely translates to in a number of languages. So when speaking in English it would make sense to use that verbiage. However, with an American parent, from my mother all us kids learned that the "correct" phrasing was to "Turn off" the light.

Note: This is all in reference to the switches.

Now as to why that might still be prevalent in the U.S....

Best,
Day
www.DayinWashington.com

lurking persons two cents

[meekachuegs.livejournal.com]

Well being the little southern belle (snorts) that I am familiar with "cut off the light" and "turn off the light" and be sure to run it all together. If "shut" is used its normally for me "shut that light off".

M~

[evening-shadow.livejournal.com]

Dimmer switch: Turn down the lights
Electric switch: Turn off the light, Flick/Hit the switch
Migraine Time: Get rid of the light, Shut out the light

However, I have also used the all purpose 'Get the lights' for oning or offing.