# switch on

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/switch-on
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To change one's expression or appearance as if by turning a switch.

## Examples

- She can switch on a smile whenever she sees a camera.
- The actor was tired, but he managed to switch on his charming stage personality the moment the director shouted action.
- Despite her internal exhaustion, she could switch on a mask of professional confidence whenever she entered the boardroom to address the investors.

---

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.