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Old 22-Jul-2007, 15:09
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Cool go dark

Hi,

In the following passage: "the radar went dark". does "went dark" mean "turned off"? "got blind"? Both?
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Old 22-Jul-2007, 15:36
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Default Re: go dark

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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.'

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Old 23-Jul-2007, 00:24
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Cool Re: go dark

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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!
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