If an alarm clock goes off, does it make a sound?

1 Conversation

Many people will tell you that they wake up when the alarm clock "goes off". Does anyone know when or where this expression got started? One should wake up when the alarm clock goes ON. That is when it makes noise; when it turns on due to a timer program set by the owner. It also is misused with fire alarms, burglar alarms, and the like. Does this have anything to do with a kitchen timer going off? You set a timer when boiling eggs (or whatever), and when the countdown is over the timer makes noise. How does "off" equate to "noise"? I still don't get it.
Please help,
R_R

Bookmark on your Personal Space


Conversations About This Entry

Entry

A19232408

Infinite Improbability Drive

Infinite Improbability Drive

Read a random Edited Entry


Written and Edited by

Disclaimer

h2g2 is created by h2g2's users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the Not Panicking Ltd. Unlike Edited Entries, Entries have not been checked by an Editor. If you consider any Entry to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please register a complaint. For any other comments, please visit the Feedback page.

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more