Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“I turn on things once I can’t change them any more.”
- Writer David Sedaris explains why he no longer likes some of his work. (Entertainment Weekly)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
to betray; to turn against; to oppose something that you once supported
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
Turn on is one of those tricky idioms that has two seemingly opposite meanings. Of course you know that you turn on a light or turn on a computer to give it power and make it work, but did you know that that use of turn on extends to people as well? If an idea turns you on, it means that it excites your mind and you like it. If something or someone makes you sexually aroused, you can say you’re turned on. Things that turn you on are called turn ons.
But that’s not what David Sedaris is talking about. Even though turn on has lots of positive meanings, it has a negative meaning as well: betrayal. To betray someone is to turn on him or her.
When David Sedaris publishes a story, he thinks it’s good. Why would he publish it if he didn’t? But as time goes on, he notices things he wishes he could change. But it’s too late. There are already millions of copies of the story printed throughout the world. So he starts to dislike his work. He turns on it.
When’s the last time that something that once turned you on turned around and turned on you?
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“Everyone was interested in her business proposal, but by the time she was finished, the whole room had turned on her.”
“The criminal turned on his comrades and kept all the money they stole together.”