power it down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "power it down" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing someone to turn off a device or system, typically in a technical or electronic context. Example: "If the device is not responding, try to power it down and restart it after a few minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The small black cube, built by Apple founder Steve Jobs' NeXT Inc, still has a label placed on it by Berners-Lee warning that "This machine is a server – DO NOT POWER IT DOWN!".

The Guardian - Tech

Harris even goes for a touch of geek cred, showing us the first server for the World Wide Web: a NeXT cube computer used by Tim Berners-Lee and still on display at CERN, with a label on the case reading, "This machine is a server — do not power it down!" (The novel shortens this to "do not power down," but let's not quibble).

The New York Times - Books

When your modem is overloaded and cannot transmit any more data between the Internet and your computer, you are instructed to: a) disconnect it; b) power it down; c) let it rest; d) power it up; e) reconnect it; f) re-launch your browser.

Huffington Post

Once it is reset, you can power it down normally.

WikiHow

Power it down and then boot it up by holding the Volume Down and Power buttons.

WikiHow

If the phone is frozen, you can power it down by removing the battery from the back.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Sometimes I experience the worst of both worlds: the drives and fan are spinning, but the monitor is blank, and I cannot get the machine to come back to life without powering it down and turning it back on.

The New York Times - Tech

Unfortunately, Mr. Seo's business has built-in conflicts with Mother Earth: From a carbon footprint point of view, one should live in the smallest house possible, but he has two houses in Bucks County, Pa., 20 minutes apart, although one is used solely for photo shoots -- and, of course, he powers it down completely when it is not in use.

The New York Times

"An obvious recommendation is to set some boundaries regarding smartphone use, such as completely powering it down after a certain time (e.g., 10pm).

TechCrunch

I know I need to be better about pocketing the phone at parties and powering it down during dinner.

Huffington Post

But, because that kind of cryptography requires more computing power, it can slow down sites and increase costs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving instructions for troubleshooting electronic devices, use "power it down" for clarity and to avoid ambiguity. For example, "If the device freezes, power it down and then restart it."

Common error

Avoid using "power it down" when you intend to simply pause or suspend the device. "Power it down" implies a complete shutdown, not just a temporary interruption. Using "put it in standby" is a less abrupt alternative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "power it down" primarily functions as an imperative, issuing a direct command or instruction to deactivate a device. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in providing technical guidance for devices like iPods, iPhones, and computers. Ludwig AI confirms it as a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

37%

News & Media

37%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "power it down" is a grammatically sound imperative phrase used to instruct the complete deactivation of a device, as reinforced by Ludwig. It's most common in technical contexts, particularly in Wiki and News & Media sources, with a neutral to informal register. While interchangeable with "turn it off" in many cases, "power it down" often implies a more complete shutdown. Alternatives include "shut it off" and "deactivate it". As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shut it off

Simple and direct alternative, suitable for general contexts.

turn it off

Very common and widely understood alternative, emphasizing the action of switching off.

deactivate it

More formal and technical, implying a deliberate disabling of functionality.

switch it off

Similar to "turn it off", but may imply a more specific switch mechanism.

disable it

Focuses on rendering something inoperative, often in a software or system context.

cut the power to it

Emphasizes the cessation of electrical supply.

bring it offline

Implies taking a system or device out of active operation, especially in networked environments.

halt its operation

A more formal and technical way to express stopping the function of something.

cease its function

Similar to halt its operation but could refer to non-mechanical functions.

put it in standby

Means to put an appliance to sleep. It still uses power but at a reduced capacity.

FAQs

What does "power it down" mean?

"Power it down" means to completely turn off a device or system, cutting off its power supply. It's commonly used when instructing someone to switch off electronic equipment.

Is "power it down" the same as "turn it off"?

While similar, "power it down" often suggests a more controlled or complete shutdown process, especially in technical contexts. "Turn it off" is a more general term.

When should I use "power it down" instead of "shut it down"?

"Power it down" and "shut it down" are often interchangeable. However, "power it down" is more specific to devices that use electricity, while "shut it down" can be used more broadly, even for non-electrical systems.

Are there any situations where I shouldn't use "power it down"?

Avoid using "power it down" if you only want to temporarily pause a device or system. In such cases, consider using phrases like "put it in standby" or "suspend it" instead.