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turn on

[/tɜːrn ɒn/]
verb (phrasal verb)
ligar, acender
1. To switch on a device or appliance by operating a control
Turn on the lights before you leave.
Ligue as luzes antes de sair.
2. To activate or start something
Can you turn on the air conditioning?
Você pode ligar o ar condicionado?
3. To cause someone to become interested, excited, or sexually attracted
That music really turns me on.
Essa música realmente me excita.
4. To direct one's attention or aggression toward someone
Don't turn on me like that!
Não se vire contra mim assim!
NYC Slang
flip the switch, power up
Synonyms
switch onactivatepower upengage
Antonyms
turn offswitch offdeactivateshut down

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ligar, acender
Most common usage for electronic devices
Rio de Janeiro
ligar, acender
Standard usage, sometimes 'botar' colloquially
São Paulo
ligar, acender
Standard usage
Portugal
ligar, acender, pôr ligado
Similar to Brazilian Portuguese; 'pôr ligado' used in some contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

turn on a dime
turn on the charm
turn on the waterworks
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