turn the engine off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turn the engine off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when giving instructions related to stopping a vehicle's engine or machinery. Example: "Before leaving the car, make sure to turn the engine off to save fuel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

If unable to put the vehicle in neutral, turn the engine off or to ACC.

The New York Times

When the vehicle is moving, a quick push of the button won't turn the engine off; the button must be held down for three seconds.

The New York Times

In its filing posted Tuesday, the safety agency said that the shifter was designed "to automatically shift the vehicle to Park under a variety of conditions, including after the driver has pressed the ignition button to turn the engine off".

The New York Times

"I was only idling for a minute, and I explained that it uses more gas and pollutes the atmosphere more to turn the engine off and back on again," he said.

The New York Times

The car's occupants pursue the tank across a field - apparently in the Donetsk town of Sloviansk - and instruct its driver to "turn the engine off".

BBC

Lebert tells him to turn the engine off and the camera shuts off for a brief period. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

An owner of Barta Iso Aviation on Long Island, which sells corporate aircraft, Mr. Barta has in the past picked women up for dinner in a turboprop, then turned the engine off in midair just to test their nerves.

The New York Times

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Vice

Within minutes of becoming airborne however, he almost crashed; while he was leaning forward to make himself comfortable, his jacket brushed the engine ignition switch and he accidentally turned the engine off, but he quickly corrected his error and was able to continue.

Wikipedia

Generally, if you can avoid 10 seconds of idling you will save gas by turning the engine off and restarting.

WikiHow

Remove the dipstick between 60 and 90 seconds after turning the engine off, and make sure the level is between the two marks.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to stop a vehicle, use the phrase "turn the engine off" followed by a brief pause before providing additional instructions. This ensures the primary action is clearly understood and executed first.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "turn the engine off" in situations where other systems need to remain active (e.g. hazard lights), as it may lead to unintended consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turn the engine off" functions as an imperative, issuing a direct command to cease the operation of an engine. Ludwig examples confirm its role in providing instructions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "turn the engine off" is a common and grammatically correct imperative used to instruct someone to stop an engine. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in written English. It appears frequently in News & Media and Wiki sources, indicating a neutral register suitable for general instructions. While alternatives like "shut down the engine" or "switch off the engine" exist, "turn the engine off" remains a straightforward and widely understood command.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shut down the engine

Uses 'shut down' instead of 'turn off', implying a complete cessation of function.

switch off the engine

Replaces 'turn' with 'switch', suggesting a more mechanical action.

stop the engine

A simpler, more direct command to cease engine operation.

power down the engine

Emphasizes the electrical aspect of shutting down the engine.

kill the engine

A more forceful and immediate way to say 'stop the engine'.

deactivate the engine

Suggests a more formal or technical process of disabling the engine.

halt the engine

A more formal term for stopping the engine, less commonly used in everyday speech.

disable the engine

Implies rendering the engine incapable of operating, not just temporarily stopping it.

put the engine out of operation

A verbose and formal way of saying to stop the engine.

cease engine operation

Very formal and technical; suitable for manuals or official instructions.

FAQs

How can I use "turn the engine off" in a sentence?

You can use "turn the engine off" as a direct command, such as: "Before refueling, please "turn the engine off"." It's also used in instructional contexts.

What's a less direct way to ask someone to "turn the engine off"?

Instead of directly saying ""turn the engine off"", you could politely suggest: "Would you mind switching off the engine?" or "Could you please stop the engine?"

Which is correct: "turn the engine off" or "turn off the engine"?

Both ""turn the engine off"" and "turn off the engine" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What can I say instead of "turn the engine off" to sound more formal?

In a more formal setting, consider using phrases like "deactivate the engine" or "cease engine operation" although these are much less common.