Lights out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Lights out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that the lights should be turned off, often in a context related to bedtime or a power outage. Example: "After the movie ended, it was time for lights out, and everyone headed to their rooms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Lights out, computers down.

The Guardian

Lights out, The Wyatts are here.

Independent

Lights out at 8 or 9pm.

Huffington Post

Lights out means lights out.

WikiHow

He played lights out".

The New York Times - Sports

She also defends lights out".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"He's throwing lights-out again".

The New York Times - Sports

Lights-out wasn't debatable.

The New York Times

Shiv Kapur is playing lights-out.

The New York Times

Lights-out is at 10 30 p.m.

Forbes

It was lights-out wherever you looked.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Lights out" to clearly indicate the time when all lights should be turned off, especially in settings with shared sleeping spaces or strict schedules.

Common error

Avoid using "Lights out" in situations where a more formal or technical term is required, such as in scientific reports about sleep studies; opt for terms like 'sleep onset' or 'lights off' procedures to maintain precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Lights out" primarily functions as an announcement or directive, signaling the end of the day or a specific activity, often indicating it's time to sleep. According to Ludwig AI, it can also describe a situation of power failure. The examples show its use in both literal and figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

7%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Lights out" is a versatile phrase primarily used to signal bedtime, the end of activities, or power outages. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered correct and usable in written English. Its informal register makes it suitable for everyday conversations, though it can also appear in news and media. It functions both as a literal instruction to turn off lights and figuratively to describe exceptional performance, mainly in sports or performance evaluations. Given the frequency of the phrase, it is considered very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Turn off the lights

A direct command to switch off the illumination.

Lights off

Shortened form conveying the same meaning as 'turn off the lights'.

Lights are out

Indicates that the lights have already been switched off.

Time for bed

Indicates it's the appropriate hour to go to sleep.

Bedtime

A single word to refer to the time for sleeping.

Curfew

Refers to a specific time when one should be home or asleep.

Blackout

Similar to 'power outage', but often implies a wider area.

Power outage

Describes a situation when electricity is lost.

End of the line

Referring to the end or finish, such as end of usage.

The end

Denotes the conclusion of something.

FAQs

How can I use "Lights out" in a sentence?

"Lights out" is typically used to announce bedtime or the end of an activity, as in, "It's 10 PM, time for lights out" or to describe a power failure, such as "The storm caused lights out across the city".

What does "Lights out" mean in the context of sports?

In sports, "Lights out" can describe an exceptional performance, meaning someone is playing incredibly well. For example, "The pitcher was lights out tonight, striking out 12 batters".

Are there alternative ways to say "Lights out" when referring to bedtime?

Yes, you can use phrases like "time for bed", "bedtime", or "curfew" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "Turn off the lights" instead of "Lights out"?

Use "turn off the lights" when directly instructing someone to switch off the lights. "Lights out" is more of an announcement or statement of fact.