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Keroro Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

lightbulb went off

hi, what is the meaning of "lightbulb went off for me" in this sentence: "As I went on to tell her about the ups and downs, joys and frustrations of parish ministry, a lightbulb went off for me." the speaker is a pastor who gets tired of his job. it seems that he starts to understand something while talking to another person. am i right?

thks!
  

Top answer

This is a mixed metaphor, but it is intended to mean that the speaker had a sudden realization or recognition. The proper metaphors are an alarm / a warning went off and a light went on .

— Mister Micawber

  • This is a mixed metaphor, but it is intended to mean that the speaker had a sudden realization or recognition.
  • The proper metaphors are an alarm / a warning went off and a light went on .
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7 Answers
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This is a mixed metaphor, but it is intended to mean that the speaker had a sudden realization or recognition. The proper metaphors are an alarm / a warning went off and a light went on.
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Also, sometimes in cartoons, when the character gets an idea, it is shown by with a lightbulb over the character's head. I also call them "ah ha moments" - when something becomes clear to you.
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but, why do we say "go off" but not "go on"?
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I understand it more as a loss of enthusiasm or of understanding.

The opposites would be 'come on' and 'go off'.

'As she was talking a little light bulb came on in my head and I felt much happier.'

A more literal sentence would be - 'As we approached the house the light over the door came on.'
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I believe that the phrase "a light bulb went off" evolved from "a bomb went off" (meaning that a bomb exploded). The 'correct' phrase should be "a light bulb came on" because a lit light bulb above a person's head symbolizes enlightenment. In animated cartoons such a light bulb goes from being off to suddenly being on. That suddenness could be characterized by an exploding bomb. Thus, combinin
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I've never in my life heard 'a light-bulb went off'.

Always 'a light-bulb went on'.

Clive
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