asleep at the switch

  • 1asleep at the switch — {adj. phr.} 1. Asleep when it is one s duty to move a railroad switch for cars to go on the right track. * /The new man was asleep at the switch and the two trains crashed./ 2. {informal} Failing to act promptly as expected, not alert to an… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 2asleep at the switch — {adj. phr.} 1. Asleep when it is one s duty to move a railroad switch for cars to go on the right track. * /The new man was asleep at the switch and the two trains crashed./ 2. {informal} Failing to act promptly as expected, not alert to an… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 3asleep at the switch — If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. Asleep at the wheel is an alternative …

    The small dictionary of idiomes

  • 4asleep\ at\ the\ switch — adj. phr. 1. Asleep when it is one s duty to move a railroad switch for cars to go on the right track. The new man was asleep at the switch and the two trains crashed. 2. informal Failing to act promptly as expected, not alert to an opportunity.… …

    Словарь американских идиом

  • 5asleep at the switch — 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 …

    Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • 6asleep at the switch — phrasal : not alert to a duty or opportunity * * * asleep at the switch (or wheel) informal not attentive or alert; inactive someone must have been asleep at the switch to allow this …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 7asleep at the switch —    If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. Asleep at the wheel is an alternative.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …

    English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • 8asleep 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… …

    New idioms dictionary

  • 9asleep at the switch —  Not awake; not focused on one’s duties (early U.S. railroad era).  ► “The company’s current troubles date back to the 1980s, when it fell asleep at the switch, letting upstart rivals cut into lucrative parts of the business.” (Barron’s, Aug. 7,… …

    American business jargon

  • 10asleep at the switch — adjective Neglectful of an important task, responsibility, or opportunity. His vote demonstrates that the people of Philadelphia are not asleep at the switch, are not indifferent to their political duties …

    Wiktionary

Страницы