asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep 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
asleep at the switch — not alert to an opportunity I think he was asleep at the switch. He didn t even know that the job was available so he never applied for it … Idioms and examples