to turn on
185
7.2
- phrasal verb
- /tɜrn ɑn/
- NSFW
- Do I know what turns me on and do I know what turns me off?
- talk turns me on
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Watch on YouTubeThis means sort of being turned on visioning yourself as as a woman.
- This means sort of being turned on visioning yourself as as a woman.
- I mean, I just, I just get a little turned on at times.
- You know, it's questions where, you know, questions turn me on, answers less so.
- And these aren't necessarily going to turn you on, but your SES will notice them.
- So you know what, MAGA, maybe that turns you on all that crazy shit that Trump says.
- My first turn on to you was when you knocked out Darren Till.
Examples
-
The number one factor that turns men on is you being turned on.
-
I leaned over to him and whispered, "You're really turning me on."
Fiction book (1999) -
I mean, I just, I just get a little turned on at times.
-
I hear plenty of guys who tell me nothing turns me on more than to see her turned on.
-
In fact, it seems to have turned her on even more.
Fiction book (1993) -
Think about something that really turns you on and then just rub down there.
Blog text (30) -
Dorky chicks like you turn me on too.
-
Arnold really turns her on and I just want to be there when it happens, that's all.
-
Her lumpy hips bulged against the shapeless black skirt as she turned her smile on me.
Fiction book (1993) -
Seeing him smile always turns on and makes my day better.
Synonyms
99
2.7
To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager
44
2.1
To give a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure
31
2.1
To please someone very much
23
5.1
To make people feel strong emotion and want to act
23
4.1
Fill a place with strong feeling or energy
15
6.6
Make someone feel sexual desire or excitement
7
4.8
To make people feel excited and ready to act
7
8.3
Make someone feel a little excited in a playful or sexual way
To disturb people or things
Antonyms
How Excited
- NSFW
15
6.6
- NSFW
185
7.2
99
2.7
185
3.7
142
5.1
189
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to depend on' is not directly derivable from the literal senses 'turn' (to change) and 'on' (active/powered), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely not predict this sense. There is a loose, somewhat metaphorical link (turn + on/upon → be determined by), but the particle usage is idiomatic and less frequent, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Turn on may come from the image of flipping a switch that lights up people’s feelings, so music or a speech can turn the crowd on. That's why it means 'to make someone feel excited or stimulated'.