#1  
Old 22-Jul-2007, 16:09
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 561
Home Country: Belgium
Native Language: French
Current Location: Brazil
Member Type: Student or Learner
Cool go dark

Hi,

In the following passage: "the radar went dark". does "went dark" mean "turned off"? "got blind"? Both?
  #2  
Old 22-Jul-2007, 16:36
BobK's Avatar
Harmless drudge
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,359
Home Country: UK
Native Language: English
Current Location: UK
Member Type: English Teacher
Default Re: go dark

Quote:
Originally Posted by bieasy View Post
Hi,

In the following passage: "the radar went dark". does "went dark" mean "turned off"? "got blind"? Both?
Went dark = suddenly stopped showing any sign of working; so "turned off" is nearly right but doesn't have the implication that something had gone wrong. If a workman puts a pick-axe through a cable, your computer screen goes dark.

There's a specialized use of 'go dark', referring to a theatre ceasing to operate. 'During the War, many London theatres went dark, but the Windmill never closed.'

b
  #3  
Old 23-Jul-2007, 01:24
Senior Member
Threadstarter  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 561
Home Country: Belgium
Native Language: French
Current Location: Brazil
Member Type: Student or Learner
Cool Re: go dark

Quote:
Originally Posted by BobK View Post
Went dark = suddenly stopped showing any sign of working; so "turned off" is nearly right but doesn't have the implication that something had gone wrong. If a workman puts a pick-axe through a cable, your computer screen goes dark.

There's a specialized use of 'go dark', referring to a theatre ceasing to operate. 'During the War, many London theatres went dark, but the Windmill never closed.'

b
Interesting! Thank you!
Closed Thread

Bookmarks


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
how to teach light and dark in science with plants gemma1687 Ask a Teacher 1 29-Mar-2007 07:36
Tall, dark and handsome Curious Cat English Idioms and Sayings 13 09-Dec-2005 20:02
the term for 'fir tree' Veronikap Ask a Teacher 5 21-Nov-2005 10:37


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:09.



Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.