Why is your alarm clock going off insted of turning on?

Question

Why is your alarm clock going off insted of turning on?

Answer 1

i had the same question

but i didn't ask it here

i'm guessing it "goes off" because of its task -- it goes OFF to wake you up..

when you'd order a person to go and get you some stuff, you can say you're asking him off to that errand/task

hmm

Answer 2

I hate that sound

Answer 3

it is already on.

It waits for a chance to go off at you

or is that waiting to have it off with you?

Answer 4

Only guessing here, but I think it comes from mechanical, not electrical, alarm clocks.

The alarms were more or less timers... the alarm was held back, waiting, until the time arrived, and then "went off".

"Turning on" would only make sense in the context of electrical clocks.

Answer 5

A very interesting question.  Really.

I always used to wonder about the word 'up'

Why do we wake up

Wash up

Clean up

Shut up

What's with this 'up' business?