ADJ
- mains, master, power
- The mains switch is in the cupboard under the stairs
- electric, electrical
- dimmer, off, on, on-off, time, timer
- We fitted dimmer switches in all the bedrooms. I couldn't find the off switch on the remote control
- ignition, intercom, light
VERB + SWITCH
- flick, flip, press, pull, throw, turn off/on
- Someone threw a switch and the electricity went off
SWITCH + VERB
- activate sth, control sth, operate sth
- This switch controls the heating system
PREP
- by (a) ~
- The light operates by time switch
- on a ~
- The heater is on a timer switch
- ~ for
- the switch for the air conditioning
PHRASES
- at the flick of a switch
- in the days before electricity was available at the flick of a switch
- a bank of switches
- The pilot reached across to the huge bank of switches on his right and flicked a couple
ADJ
- abrupt, immediate, sudden
- big
- complete
- tactical
- The team's manager made a shrewd tactical switch in defence
PREP
- ~ away from
- There will be no overnight switch away from old voting habits
- ~ back to, ~ between
- the recent switches between direct and indirect taxation
- ~ from
- her switch from full-time to part-time work
- ~ in
- their abrupt switch in allegiance
- ~ (over) to
- theatre directors who make the switch over to films