[General] I was so tired that I went out like a light. isn't change it to went off?

[chungjaeuk]

like a titles, if i change that went out to went off, meaning of that sentence is changed so much or just not fitable to grammer?

 

[FreeToyInside]

"be/go out like a light" is a rather fixed expression, so saying "went off like a light" sounds strange.

It's very common to say "the lights go out" when you don't expect the lights to be turned off.

"There was a very big storm last night and all our lights went out." (We lost electricity)
"There was a bolt of lightning and then all the lights in our neighborhood went out." (From houses, street lamps, etc)
"Do you have any light bulbs? This light's out." (This light bulb is dead)

Also common when telling children what time they have to go to bed, is "lights out," as in:

"Alright kids, go brush your teeth. It's lights out at 9 o'clock."
"Go put your toys away, lights out at eight."

(not a teacher, just a language lover)

 

[BobSmith]

[AmE - not a teacher]

When the lights "go out", it's an unexpected event, compared to turning the lights "off", which is purposeful.

 

[5jj]

Welcome to the forum chungjaeuk. :hi:

Please remember to start your sentences with a capital letter. Note my corrections to you post, below:

[STRIKE]like a[/STRIKE]As I asked in the title[STRIKE]s[/STRIKE], if [STRIKE]i[/STRIKE] I change that "went out" to "went off", is the meaning of that sentence [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] changed so much, or is it ust not [STRIKE]fitable to grammer[/STRIKE] grammatical?

 

[5jj]

When the lights "go out", it's an unexpected event, compared to turning the lights "off", which is purposeful.

In BrE you can turn the light off or out.

 

[nedira]

"I was so tired that I went out like a light"

The verb "went out" fits well in this context because the speaker wants to say that he went to sleep immediately like the light goes off/out when you just turn it off.

 

[BobSmith]

"I was so tired that I went out like a light"

The verb "went out" fits well in this context because the speaker wants to say that he went to sleep immediately like the light goes off/out when you just turn it off.

Then why not use "I was so tired that I went off like a light" (which is the OPs question)?

 

[BobSmith]

In BrE you can turn the light off or out.

You can in AmE too, but "out" has the ring of going to bed (or perhaps closing up shop), whereas "off" is more general.

 

[5jj]

Then why not use "I was so tired that I went off like a light" (which is the OPs question)?

Because, as FreeToyInside explained: "be/go out like a light" is a rather fixed expression, so saying "went off like a light" sounds strange.

 

[BobSmith]

Because, as FreeToyInside explained: "be/go out like a light" is a rather fixed expression, so saying "went off like a light" sounds strange.

I know that. But nedira seemed to suggest it was ok.

 

[5jj]

I know that. But nedira seemed to suggest it was ok.

I was fairly sure you did. i was just clarifying it for other people.