go dark

[bieasy]

Hi,

In the following passage: "the radar went dark". does "went dark" mean "turned off"? "got blind"? Both?

[BobK]

Originally Posted by bieasy

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

[bieasy]

Originally Posted by BobK

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!