• Question: Why is an alarm clock going "off" when it actually turns on?

    Asked by yourfaceisabook to Hermine, Katy, Laura, Nathalie, Paula on 17 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Nathalie Pettorelli

      Nathalie Pettorelli answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      Hi there,

      The clock is on, the alarm is turned off 😉

    • Photo: Paula Salgado

      Paula Salgado answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      Well, just one of those silly things we say to confuse ourselves, no?… 😛

    • Photo: Katy Mee

      Katy Mee answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      I think the term originated from the types of things you shout at the alarm when it starts to make that god-awful sound e.g. “[BUZZ] OFF, I’ve got at least 5 more minutes”……said for the 10th time that morning. I had a similar experience this morning.

    • Photo: Hermine Schnetler

      Hermine Schnetler answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      Well the clock part is already on, the term going off means something being discharged and the alarm discharges a noise when it goes off.

    • Photo: Laura Dixon

      Laura Dixon answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      Because the English language is full of horriby confusing saying/words! lol 😉

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