While living in the Middle East, I often found some phrases and sayings that were not quite incorrect, but also not used in the right way. Some were just altogether wrong.
Today I'd like to show you the first one that I've heard many, many times.
1. Close the AC.
This one I can kind of understand, because the older style split unit ACs that are all over in the Middle East often close when you switch it off. So it makes sense that one would think you should say "close the AC". However, somewhere that then moved on to "close the lights" which is completely incorrect.
So what should we say? Put the AC off OR you can say Switch it off. We mostly use put it off though.
If you ever get confused and are not sure about whether you have to say close or put it off or switch it off, think about the physical act of it. In other words, when you close something you actually get up and close it. Like a door, a plastic container or even a book.
Close the door
With lights and an AC however, we don't touch the object itself. We don't go up to the AC or the light and touch it to "close" it. No, instead we go to the AC remote or the light switch and we turn it off there.
We switch the AC off with a remote
Hopefully you can now close the book on this confusing phrase 😉
Comments