stop the lights: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  British EnglishUKinformalcolloquialinterjection
  • An exclamation expressing surprise, disbelief, or incredulity.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Stop the lights! I can’t believe you managed to pull that off so flawlessly.

    Stop the lights! I can’t believe you managed to pull that off so flawlessly.

  • When he told me he won the lottery, I just said, 'Stop the lights! That’s incredible!'

    When he told me he won the lottery, I just said, 'Stop the lights! That’s incredible!'

  • Stop the lights — you really think I’d fall for that old trick again?

    Stop the lights — you really think I’d fall for that old trick again?

• 2.

  General Englishneutralliteral
  • To switch off or cause the lights to cease illuminating.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Before going to bed, Sarah stopped the lights in the entire house to save electricity.

    Before going to bed, Sarah stopped the lights in the entire house to save electricity.

  • The technician stopped the lights in the auditorium to test the emergency backup system.

    The technician stopped the lights in the auditorium to test the emergency backup system.

  • When the power outage occurred, the city stopped the lights in several neighborhoods as a precaution.

    When the power outage occurred, the city stopped the lights in several neighborhoods as a precaution.

  • He stopped the lights in the hallway after everyone had left the building.

    He stopped the lights in the hallway after everyone had left the building.