turn sth on
phr. v.. A2 Elementary Oxford
phr. v.. to make a machine, light, or device start working by pressing a button or moving a switch.
phr. v.. to activate an electrical or mechanical device by operating a switch, valve, or control mechanism.
Can you turn the lights on?
It was getting dark, so she decided to turn the heating on and close the curtains.
The technician had to turn the primary server on before the rest of the network could be synchronized.
Usage
commonly used with appliances, lights, engines, and electronic devices.
Teaching tip
this is a separable phrasal verb; emphasize that if the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between 'turn' and 'on'.
Pitfall
Turn on it.Turn it on.when the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.