Staggering staeg^rir3/ [adjl a staggering
number or amount is very surprising because it is so large: There has been a staggering rise in the number of attacks and murders in our cities. I We spend a staggering £2.4 billion a year on food
for our pets.
H something surprising that happens
surprise /.sypraiz [n C] something that you did not expect, especially something nice
it is a surpriselit was a surprise It was a
real surprise when Tony walked in. We thought he was still in America. I We've got Katie a bike for her birthday, but don't tell her - it's a surprise, a complete surprise (=one that you did not expect at all) Anita didn't expect to get the job - it was a complete surprise. Qwhat a surprise! spoken Flowers? For me? What a lovely surprise!
shock Jok||Ja:k/ (n C] something very bad
or unpleasant that happens to you and that you did not expect: 'The bill came to almost £500." "That must have been a shock."
get a shock. She got a shock when she opened the letter and saw who it was from, give sb a shock It gave me a shock to realize that I had nearly been killed.
КЗ when something does not make you surprised
not surprising/hardly surprising
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SURPRISING/SURPRISED
/.not S3ppra}zir}, ,ha:rdli s3r"praiziq/ if
SURPRISING/SURPRISED
something is not surprising or hardly surprising, you are not surprised by it because the situation makes it very likely to happen: Now she's frightened to go
out at night, which is hardly surprising after what happened to her
it is not surprising/hardly surprising
(that) It's not surprising you're t\red - you've been out every night this week. not surprisingly [adv] Not surprisingly, she 's very annoyed (=it is not surprising that she is annoyed).
Ql'm not surprised /aim rut sy
praizd spokfn say this when you can clearly see why something has happened: "I'm starving." "I'm not surprised. You haven't eaten all day." + (that) I'm not surprised she's fed up with him.
QUO wonder /пэи 'wM\dar/ spokln say this when you realize the reason why something happened, so that it is not surprising any more: No wonder my camera wasn't working - there's no battery in it!
come as no surprise k\m ж пэп
sor'praiz/ if something comes as no surprise. you are not surprised when it happens. because you expected it to happen it comes as no surprise when It came as no surprise when President Santos announced his resignation.
SWITCH ON OR OFF
to make a light, machine, radio
LIGHT 3
г
MACHINE
etc start or stop working by pressing or turning something
COMPUTUS
<4
see also
TELEVISION AND RADIO
to switch something on
Switch ОП /,swit/ Dnjj-cm/ (phrasal verb I/T] to make something start working, for example by pressing a button - use this about things that use electricity, for example, lights, televisions, or computers
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switch oa sth Can you switch on the television? i I switched on the radio to listen to the news.
switch sth on Do you mind if I switch
the light on?
turn ОП /,1з:гп оп||-'а:п [phrasal verb T] to make something start working, for example by turning a tap or pressing a button - use this about things that use electricity, gas. or water
turn on sth He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. turn sth on Do you want me to turn the lights on?
put Sth ОП ,pot (sth) 'опЦ-'шп/ [phrasal verb T] put the light/radio/TV/Uettle
etc on to make a light, radio etc start working: Eva put the kettle on to make a cup of coffee. I Put the light on, then we can see what we're doing.
Start stu:rt [и T] start a car/engine/ motor to make a car. engine, or motor start working: She started the car and backed slowly out of the garage.
В to switch something off
off ;',switj Щ-Ы [phrasal uerb I/T] to make something stop working, for example by pressing a button - use this about things that use electricity, for example, lights, televisions, or computers switch off sth Always switch off your computer when you've finished- switch sth off It 's OK - I switched it off before I went out.
turn off /,п:гп 'nffj-'^f [phrasal verb T] to make something stop working, for example by pressing a button or turning a tap - use this about things that use electricity, gas, or water
turn off sth She got up and turned off the TV. I Could you turn off the heater before you go to bed? turn sth off Who forgot to turn the tap
off?
Stop /stDp|sta:p/ [и T] to make an engine or machine stop working: George stopped the engine and got out of the car. I We had to stop the pump and unblock it.
When you see US, go to the ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION section
El when something is switched on
on Dn|]a:n, от, [adj/adv not before noun] if something is on, it is working - use this about lights, machines, and other things that use electricity, gas, or water: Is the heating on? I'm freezing, leave sth on Did you leave the kitchen light on?
keep stK on In the winter, I keep the gas fire on all day.
come/go on (=start working) The heating comes on automatically.
be switched on /bi: .switjt 'оп||-'а:п
use this about things that use electricity, for example, machines, computers, or heating equipment: A green light shows that the computer is switched on. I Have you checked that the power is switched on?