Dear Lola,
Why do we say an alarm clock is going ‘off’ when the alarm is actually turning on? Shouldn’t we say the alarm is turning on? Also, when we turn the alarm off, does that mean the alarm is still making noise or silent? We’re using the same word to mean two entirely different things – and both are used in reference to an alarm clock! It’s ridiculous and I must know how this happened.
Sincerely,
Shut the Bleep Up Already
Dear Shut the Bleep Up Already,
I knew this question would come one day. I have also pondered this very thing when listening to my humans converse in the mornings. I must say, we don’t have these severe miscommunications in the canine language. After many hours of research into this conundrum, I’m happy to report that I have an answer for you.
Humans spend a lot of time with their friend alcohol.
There is no other way to explain how the word ‘off’ in relation to an alarm can mean that the alarm is both blaring and silent. Fearing I was judging the humans too sharply, I asked my neighbor Arrow for his opinion. He is a wise dog, as evidenced by his greying beard and bushy eyebrows. Arrow agreed that humans spend an inordinate amount of time with alcohol, but that doesn’t quite explain how the same word means the complete opposite of each other. Arrow suggested I turn to my favorite Seinfeld episode to find the answer.
The Bizarro World.
Thanks to Jerry’s never-ending Superman obsession, I know that The Bizarro World holds the opposite of everything we understand. Hi means bye, leave means stay, off means on. Unfortunately, when you combine alcohol and opposites, things can get messy. I think the question humans should all be contemplating is this –
How much wine is too much wine?
♥Lola♥
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Wine good, water bad! There is never enough wine or is it whine??
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alcohol is the root of all mispronunciations and word complications. We don’t turn our alarm off, we just stop it. 🙂
#LGRTStumble
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I’m still stuck with the alarm clock going off or on…I’m intrigued. #Dreamteam
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The thing I don’t like about alarm clocks…I am always awake before it begins the noise but I always forget to turn it off and have to rush around looking for my phone when it starts! #DreamTeam
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That really is the worst thing, it could give you a heart attack!
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Hi, I not a fan of alarm clocks. I always seem to wake up before they start ringing and then forget to turn it of. Often because I am up and doing something else #dreamteam
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I do the same thing!
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I have my own inbuilt alarm clock now thanks to my three little humans! I haven’t heard the sound of my alarm in years! (Sob sob!) #dreamteam
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That is sad!
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Is there even an alarm clock in the Lola household when humans are still up at 4am and are having power naps in the afternoon?!
I have a question for Lola from Dottie…
‘ why is it humans wash the floor when I’m trying to come in from the garden? It’s most inconsiderate….’
🐶💕
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Hubster uses an alarm clock, Lola and I loathe its presence with a passion.
I’ve turned Dottie’s question to Lola for answering. Stayed tuned!
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Well this conundrum certainly seems top have alarmed your questioner, Lola. Thing is, as a dog, it’s amazing how you guys never need an alarm to get up straight away when we humanbeasts walk into the room where you are sleeping, and go into waggy-tail mode straight away. #DreamTeam
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They do just jump right up to full alertness! They make it look so easy.
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They sure do — they just don’t seem to do negative, or please come back later
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This is why I dont use alarm clocks, I cant deal with the confusion they create (and im ALWAYS awake anyway) #dreamteam
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Any time I have to set an alarm I know I’ll be waking up cranky. It’s too shocking to the system to be jolted awake. Today I was jolted awake by somebody ringing my doorbell, I swear my heart almost stopped.
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that is a great question, why do we say it’s going of when it is actually going on? #DreamTeam
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Humans develop the oddest expressions!
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Some wise words, my canine friend. As for how much wine is too much wine, I haven’t found the answer yet. I’ll keep drinking until I get the answer. …just for you.
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You are a hero to sacrifice for our knowledge! Let us know if you ever find out too much wine exists.
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Oops. Too much wine, clearly. Forgot to add #DreamTeam
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I’m confused! Is it off or is it actually going off? My head hurts #dreamteam
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Exactly! Every morning when Hubster says his alarm is “going off” while it bleeps loudly, I just wonder what drunk human came up with the saying.
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It is a good thing my alarm in my phone otherwise it would be tossed across the room! #dreamteam
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I’ve tossed phones before! My night brain does not like being disturbed once it falls asleep.
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I hate alarms, but love the snooze button hahaha! #dreamteam
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I press the snooze button EVERY morning! Hate alarms #DreamTeam
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The snooze is the most important button ever invented!
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This has really got me thinking now! I never paid attention to it ‘going off’ interesting topic as usual xx #DreamTeam
Soffy // themumaffairs.blogspot.com
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Lola’s readers do like to send in questions that tickle the brain.
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Good question. Wish I knew the answer. lol! #dreamteam
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Why do we always leave the alarm clock on,grrr X #dreamteam
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Great work as always Lola! I wish this was a question I could relate to right now. Unfortunately my toddler or dog always manage to wake me before any alarm gets the chance! #dreamteam
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That is rough! Lola and I like to wake up naturally each day – when our bellies rumble with hunger!
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We don’t need an alarm now we’ve got the cat …He starts howling for his breakfast at 6am. Sometimes even earlier. (I apologies for the cat mention)
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Lola has cat friends in the neighborhood. She’s very frightened of them so she respects every rule they make about when she can play in her own backyard.
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Think I need a wine to think about the alarm going off? #dreamteam
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Definitely!
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How much wine is too much? Now there is a question to ponder over a large glass of wine… #dreamteam
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I’ll put Lola to work on thinking about it!
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Never too much wine!
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Alcohol is to blame for most of the strange English language rules and phrases!
#dreamteam
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A very good question … another baffling conundrum provided by the English language!
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When I want to sleep in, my babies wake me up, when I need an alarm clock, I sleep through it. Whyy? #dreamteam
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The universe enjoys making humans dance to its tune!
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Made me smile. 20 years into a marriage where I keep telling him his alarm is pointless as only I hear it and hate it I still hate it when the alarm goes off/on! #DreamTeam
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Lola is one smart bulldog. #DreamTeam
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Thank you, her head is swelling with all the praise.
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Who needs alarm clocks when you have kids instead! Wine helps, it is like medicine so stick to a daily dose of one glass #dreamteam
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I haven’t had to use an alarm clock since 2009. Coincidentally this is when my first child was born. I would be intrigued to know how to turn my children off though! #DreamTeam
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I’ll put Lola to work on that dilemma!!
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“Too much wine” you say? Nope. Not familiar with that concept. 😂 Lola and Arrow should have their own detective / advice series on Netflix. It would be an absolute winner! Thanks co-hosty 😘 x #DreamTeam
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Lola is trying to negotiate Arrow into agreeing to be paid in cheese but he’s pretty stuck on peanut butter. The series cannot survive until the two come to a settlement.
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Yes I think we all hate the stupid morning alarm clock, but thank God for the snooze option!!
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Great, great, great! There are so many ironies and inconsistencies in the English language, it’s wonderful.
#DreamTeam
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I’m one of those (annoying people) who sets alarm after alarm after alarm – because I know I won’t wake up in the first go! And love that feeling of being semi-awake, knowing you still have 3 more alarms to go till you HAVE to get up!!!
(That being said, I now have to spring out of bed when my 4 year old demands – alarm or no alarm. Period.)
#dreamteam
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The ultimate alarm clock, child! If only they had a snooze function!
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Giggles to self…. I actually shouted ‘quick, the alarm is going OFF’ this morning’. I’ve not really thought about it till now! Too much wine you say Lola? Well, that must be the answer. Thanks for being a fab #DreamTeam host xx
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I loathe alarm clocks – they always seem to go off at the wrong time — when I still want to snuggle and catch that last snooze. As for the wine part – with the current water crisis in Cape Town – we tend to drink more wine now to save on water. So you see Lola, I don’t really have a choice but to indulge. #Dreamteam
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Lola said your indulgence is benefiting the environment, which makes you a hero!
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LOL – I hope they see my efforts in saving water, Lola.
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I’m going to be pondering the alarm thing all day now!!! #dreamteam
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Lola does enjoy making people think about the absurd.
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The only one who wakes by an alarm is my hubby unless you class the kids as alarms #DreamTeam
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If your kids have a snooze button, then you could classify them as alarms!
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Lola, can you really help us humans, or are was simply hopeless? #LGRTstumble xoxo
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She thinks she can bring us all into the light!
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Lola can!!!
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Can’t remember the last time I was allowed to sleep long enough for the alarm to actually go off!! #DreamTeam
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That sounds rough!
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We recently had a conversation of similar ilk when the Mrs. said to Big, “please hang the phone up.” Now, we have no landline and smartphones don’t need to be hanging… Big was quite confused and we had to speak about the days of yesteryear… language is a funny one…. #dreamteam TY Lola!
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It’s amazing to think how many phrases we are accustomed to saying that the youngest generation have no idea of the context!
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If you’re face down in your dinner, you may have had too much wine … Tasty wine! 😉
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So true!
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Hehe! Is there such a think as too much wine? I have never thought about this before but now I an driving myself crazy trying to justify why the word ‘off’ is the right word but I don’t think it is! Thank you for joining with #BigPinkLink…. I’m going to go and work this out!!!!
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Bring me the wine!! I love the eccentricities of the English language 🙂 #BlogCrush
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Gatsby wants to know what time Lola wakes up… #blogcrush xo
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She tries to wake around 8am for breakfast, sometimes it’s closer to noon before she’s rolling out of bed.
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Whoa! G-man wakes up with me, 4:30 am ish.
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Lola is a sleeper! Sometimes I get out of bed and she makes me come back for her later. She can’t get down without assistance, it’s so cute!
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Nice! Our boys used to be the same way. Gatsby is a spring chicken! Who really likes chicken. ❤️
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