# sleeping at the switch

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sleeping-at-the-switch
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Alternative form of asleep at the switch.

## Examples

- The manager was sleeping at the switch during the crisis.
- The project failed because the team leader was sleeping at the switch and missed the deadline.
- By sleeping at the switch while the market shifted, the company lost its competitive advantage and suffered significant financial losses.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.