Englishfor English speakers
switch
Verb
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If you switch something, you change it to something else.
He switched his book with mine.
We switched to a cheaper brand of coffee.
When they didn't seem to understand, he switched to French.
Jump ten times, switch legs and repeat.
I just switched jobs, and at my new job I don't have insurance.
When his team was losing, he switched sides.
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If you switch a light or machine on, you change something so that it has power and can work.
She sat up in bed and switched on the light.
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If you switch a light or machine off, you change something so that it doesn't have power and can't work.
I switched off the computer and went to bed.
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If you switch over to something, you change to it, often with no plan to change back to the first thing.
We used to watch CNN, but we've switched over to BBC World News.
It was difficult when I switched over from writing to acting.
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If you switch gears, you change the way you think or act to match a particular situation.
When I come home from work, it takes me a while to switch gears.
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If you switch with somebody, you do something that they usually do and they do the thing that you usually do.
Sibyl couldn't work on Tuesday, so I switched with her.
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If you switch a machine to a particular setting or function, you set it to work that way.
She switched the TV to another channel.
She switched the plane to automatic pilot.
switch
Noun
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A switch is what you use to turn lights or other machines and equipment on and off.
The light switch is on the wall behind the door.
Where's the on/off switch on this printer?
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A switch is a change from one thing to another.
It's often difficult for older people to make the switch to living alone.
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A switch is a place on the track where trains can chose between two tracks.
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A switch is a networking device that connects networks together by sending data (packets) only to the devices that need them.
Switches are more efficient than hubs because they understand which device needs the data that other devices send them.
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A switch is a thin stick.
off
Preposition
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Away from somewhere or some time.
I got ready and by 7:00 I was off to school.
There's a nice restaurant just off the main road.
Bye, I'll be off now.
He was standing about 50m off.
Your birthday's only a few days off now.
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If something is off it is not on.
She took the hat off his head.
Keep your feet off the desk, please.
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Out of a vehicle such as a train, bus, etc.
As the train stopped, he jumped off and ran to her.
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If something that uses energy is off, it is not working.
It was dark in the room because the light was off.
He turned the TV off and went to bed.
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If you are off, you do not have to go to work or to school.
I work evenings, but I have my afternoons off.
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made smaller by a certain amount
They've taken 30% off the price.
We cut off a few pieces.
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If a plan, event, etc. is off, it will not happen.
Tonight's game is off because of the rain.
They've called off the meeting.
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If you're off something, you don't like or want something you wanted before.
That article really put me off meat.
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If you're off some medicine, you are not using it any more.
He's been off the pain killers for a few weeks.
off
Adjective
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If food is off, it is not good to eat anymore.
off
Verb
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If a person offs someone, they kill him or her.
I heard they offed Jimmy by drowning.