Turn sb on Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Turn sb on” Mean?

“Turn sb on” is a phrasal verb that usually means to excite or interest someone, often in a sexual way. It can also mean to activate or switch something on.

Introduction

The phrase “Turn sb on” is common in spoken English and has two main meanings. First, it is often used to describe something that excites or attracts someone, especially in a romantic or sexual context. Second, it can mean to switch on a device or machine. Understanding the “Turn sb on meaning” helps learners use it correctly in different situations. This phrase is casual and appears frequently in conversations, movies, and music, making it useful for English learners to master.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Turn somebody on
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 – C1
• Short meaning: To excite or interest someone; to switch on something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Turn sb on” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means the object (sb) can come between the verb and the particle “on” or after it.

• Turn somebody on
• Turn on somebody

Examples:

• “That song really turns me on.”
• “Can you turn me on the light?” (informal, but less common)

How to Use Turn sb on?

Use “Turn sb on” when you want to say something excites or interests a person emotionally or physically. It is mostly informal and often used in casual conversations. You can also use it when talking about switching on electrical devices, but this usage is less focused on a person.

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “Turn sb on” in different contexts:

• “Her confidence really turns him on.”
• “The new video game turned him on instantly.”
• “Can you turn on the TV? I want to watch the news.”
• “Certain smells turn me on because they remind me of summer.”
• “That joke didn’t turn me on at all.”

These examples show how “Turn sb on in a sentence” can express attraction, interest, or activation.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse “turn sb on” with “turn on sb” or misuse it in formal situations. Here are examples of incorrect and correct usage:

• Incorrect: “She turned on me with her words.” (This means to attack someone, not to excite.)
• Correct: “She turned me on with her smile.”
• Incorrect: “Please turn me on the light.”
• Correct: “Please turn on the light.”

Remember, when talking about devices, “turn on” is usually followed directly by the object without separating.

Differences / Synonyms

Other phrasal verbs like “turn on,” “switch on,” and “turn up” can sometimes be similar but have different uses.

• Turn on: To activate a device or to excite someone.
• Switch on: Mainly means to activate a device.
• Turn up: To increase volume or intensity.

“Turn sb on” is unique because it focuses on exciting a person emotionally or physically, unlike “switch on” which is only for devices.

Common Collocations

When using “Turn sb on,” certain words often appear together. These collocations help convey clear meaning:

• Turn someone on sexually: To excite someone in a romantic or sexual way.
• Turn someone on to an idea: To interest or excite someone about a new idea or activity.
• Turn on the light/device: To activate something electrical.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of turn sb on:

• Turn On Sb
• Turn Sb Inside Out
• Turn Sth In
• Turn Sb Down
• Turn Sth Over To Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a quick conversation using “Turn sb on”:

Alice: What kind of music turns you on?

Ben: I love jazz; it really gets me excited.

Alice: Cool! That kind of music turns me on too.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “turn sb on”:

• The smell of fresh coffee always ______ me on in the morning.
• Could you please ______ the heater on? It’s cold here.
• His passion for art really ______ her on.

(Answers: turns, turn, turns)

FAQ

• Q: Is “turn sb on” formal or informal?
  A: It is informal and mostly used in casual speech.
• Q: Can “turn sb on” only mean sexual excitement?
  A: No, it can also mean to interest or excite someone non-sexually.
• Q: How do I use “turn sb on” with devices?
  A: Usually, we say “turn on the light” instead of “turn someone on.”
• Q: Is “turn sb on” separable?
  A: Yes, the object can come between the verb and “on.”
• Q: What is the difference between “turn on” and “switch on”?
  A: Both mean to activate devices, but “turn on” also means to excite a person.