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BirdyFlies Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Turn On

According to dictionaries, "turn something on somebody/something" means "point it toward sb or sth". So:

"He turned the flashlight on the cat."
"He turned the gun on the cat."
"He turned the gun on himself."

Do the last two sentences mean he only pointed the gun toward the cat/himself and didn't open fire?
  

Top answer

BirdyFlies Do the last two sentences mean he only pointed the gun toward the cat/himself and didn't open fire? Yes, but I expect the context would tell what happened. " implies that he committed suicide after killing others.

— AlpheccaStars

  • BirdyFlies Do the last two sentences mean he only pointed the gun toward the cat/himself and didn't open fire?
  • Yes, but I expect the context would tell what happened.
  • " implies that he committed suicide after killing others.
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5 Answers
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BirdyFliesDo the last two sentences mean he only pointed the gun toward the cat/himself and didn't open fire?
Yes, but I expect the context would tell what happened. Usually "He turned the gun on himself." implies that he committed suicide after killing others.
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Hi,

Do the last two sentences mean he only pointed the gun toward the cat/himself and didn't open fire?

Sometimes'. . . and fired ' is implied.
The context normally makes it clear.
e
g Tom turned the gun on Mary. 'Don't shoot!', s
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A 78-year-old man shot and killed his 21-year-old Filipino wife, then set their home on fire, before turning the gun on himself.

Read more:
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Then, "He turned the gun on himself" is ambiguous?
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Hi,

I suppose so, but in context it would not normally be ambiguous at all..

Clive
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