asleep at the switch

Idioms  

1. Also, asleep at the wheel. Inattentive, not doing one's job, as in At the critical moment the watchman was asleep at the switch and only called the fire department when it was too late. This term came from 19th-century American railroading, when it was the trainman's duty to switch cars from one track to another by means of manually operated levers. Should he fail to do so, trains could collide. It was later transferred to any lack of alertness. The wheel in the variant is a steering wheel; similarly disastrous results are implied.

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Example Sentences

Americans tend to be asleep at the switch.

From Salon • Aug. 7, 2023

Another administration official insisted that just because they had not announced any public actions, it doesn’t mean they were asleep at the switch.

From Washington Times • May 12, 2022

Years of inaction have justifiably led critics to complain that regulators around the world have been asleep at the switch.

From The Verge • Apr. 9, 2019

But, Illán warns, don’t fall asleep at the switch.

From Washington Post • Mar. 25, 2016

"Tom Reade won't be through all summer with tormenting me about being asleep at the switch."

From The High School Boys in Summer Camp by Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)

Related Words

• inattentive
• reckless