turn on

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(something) turns (one) on

slang Something increases one's sexual interest or excitement. I know it's clichéd, but expensive cars and nice suits really turn me on. A sense of humor turns me on more than anything, honestly. Wow, seeing you in that skimpy dress really turns me on. Can we skip our dinner reservation and just stay home?
See also: on, turn

turn on

1. verb To enable, connect, or start the function of something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "turn" and "on." Would you turn on the water heater for me, please? I need to turn on the lights to see properly.
2. verb To start, become active, or begin functioning, as of a machine or device. A: "My computer isn't turning on for some reason." B: "Are you sure it's plugged in?" The lights in the house are scheduled to turn on at dusk while we're away.
3. verb To suddenly attack, berate, or show hostility toward someone, especially after previously having been loyal or amiable. I know he seems friendly, but he'll turn on you in an instant if you disagree with him. The dog turned on its owner, biting him in the leg.
4. verb To shift or direct the focus of something onto someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "turn" and "on." Then the reporter turned the camera on me and started asking me about my involvement. Can you turn the lights on lead actor, please?
5. verb To depend on or center around someone or something. Our entire plan turns on them accepting this offer. The plot of the books turns on two brothers during the civil war.
6. verb, slang To increase someone's sexual interest or excitement. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "turn" and "on." I know it's clichéd, but expensive cars and nice suits really turn me on. A: "All I need to do to turn on the ladies is just flex my guns." B: "I think I just threw up a little."
7. noun, slang Something that increases someone's sexual interest or excitement. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated. It's a big turn-on when a guy is a good listener.
See also: on, turn

turn on, tune in, drop out

A slogan urging people to experiment with psychedelic drugs, especially LSD, in order to perceive the world in new ways and challenge the natural order of society. Popularized by the psychologist Timothy Leary in the 1960s. A: "I'm worried Tom might be getting into drugs." B: "A lot of kids go through a 'turn on, tune in, and drop out' phase, especially during college. I'm sure he'll grow out of it."
See also: drop, out, tune, turn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

turn (up)on someone or something

to attack or oppose someone or something, especially the person or group in charge. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I never thought that my own dog would turn on me! The treasurer turned on the entire board of directors.
See also: on, turn

turn someone on

to excite or interest someone. Fast music with a good beat turns me on. That stuff doesn't turn on anyone.
See also: on, turn

turn something on

to switch on something to make it run. I turned the microwave oven on and cooked dinner. I turned on the lights when the sun went down.
See also: on, turn

turn on someone

to attack someone. I thought the strange dog was friendly, but suddenly it turned on me and bit me. Bob knows a lot about lions, and he says that no matter how well they are trained, there is always the danger that they'll turn on you.
See also: on, turn

turn on

 
1. Lit.[for something] to switch on and start running. The lights turned on right at dusk. At what time do the street lights turn on?
2. Fig. to become interested or excited. He turns on when he sees the mountains. Ann will turn on if she hears this song.
See also: on, turn
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

turn on

1. Cause to begin the operation, flow, or activity of, as in Turn on the lights, please, or Don't turn on the sprinkler yet. [First half of 1800s]
2. Begin to display, employ, or exude, as in He turned on the charm. [Late 1800s]
3. Also, get high or on . Take or cause to take a mind-altering drug, as in The boys were excited about turning on, or They tried to get her high, or I told them I wouldn't get on tonight. [Slang; mid-1900s]
4. Be or cause to become excited or interested, as in His mother was the first to turn him on to classical music. [c. 1900]
5. Be or become sexually aroused, as in He blushed when she asked him what turned him on. [Second half of 1900s]
6. Also, turn upon. Depend on, relate to, as in The entire plot turns on mistaken identity. This usage, first recorded in 1661, uses turn in the sense of "revolve on an axis or hinge."
7. Also, turn upon. Attack, become hostile toward, as in Although normally friendly, the dog suddenly turned on everyone who came to the door. Also see turn against.
See also: on, turn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

turn on

v.
1. To suddenly aim or focus something on someone or something: She turned the camera on the speaker. He turned the gun on himself.
2. To attack someone or something suddenly and violently with no apparent motive: The lion turned on the animal trainer.
3. To become disloyal toward someone that one was once loyal to: After years as an assistant, I turned on my boss and told the authorities about his tax evasion.
4. To depend on someone or something for success or failure: The campaign turns on attracting swing voters.
5. To start the operation, activity, or flow of something by or as if by turning a switch: Turn on the light bulb. Turn the generator on.
6. To begin instantly to display, employ, or exude some affectation: She turned on the charm. He turns a fake accent on when he doesn't want to be recognized.
7. Slang To take a mind-altering drug, especially for the first time: They turned on and passed out at the party.
8. Slang turn on to To cause to become interested, pleasurably excited, or stimulated by something: My aunt turned me on to jazz.
9. Slang turn on to To be interested, pleasurably excited, or stimulated by something: She turned on to surfing this summer.
10. Vulgar Slang To excite someone sexually.
See also: on, turn
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

turn on

1. in. to become interested or excited. She turned on when she heard her name called.
2. in. to take a drug. (Drugs.) He will turn on with anybody at the drop of a hat.
3. n. someone or something that excites someone. (Usually turn-on.) David can be a real turn-on when he’s in a good mood.
See also: on, turn

turn someone on

tv. to excite or interest someone. (see also turn on.) Fast music with a good beat turns me on.
See also: on, someone, turn

turned on

1. mod. made alert to what is new and exciting. I want to hire someone who’s really turned on—a real comer. A young, turned on MBA would be just right.
2. mod. drug intoxicated. (Drugs.) Jerry’s turned on by noon—every day. The kid over there looks sort of turned on. Let’s go talk to him a bit.
See also: on, turn
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
This year's events were on a smaller scale than the previous two Christmas lights turnons which saw free pop concerts put on at Millennium Point.
Kaltenbach's art, which resides in the intangible private logic of daydreams and the mental turnons of ideas, takes the radical chance of escaping history altogether.
Here they are, in their own words, describing their turnons, their turnoffs, and what they're looking for in that special someone.
Trouble identifies as a queer director rather than as a lesbian director "because my personal turnons vary so wildly from women to men to transpeople that I couldn't just make one kind of movie, you know?" But she knows she's learned a lot from an earlier generation of lesbian-identified filmmakers.
Behavioural expert Judi James said: "Accents, pitch, pace and tone can all be turnons or turnoffs.
The show may lack the finesse and sophistication of Cabaret, and (sofar) the cult status of Rocky Horror, but it does have its own turn-offs (and turnons) travelling the same road.
* Assurances that she is desirable: Compliments, hugs, kisses and other acts of love and appreciation are big turnons for women.
Sex therapists say that "talking dirty" can be a spontaneous turnon for both parties.