Why -

[Munkeeluvva]

- do we say the alarm went off when, in fact, it went on?

[~max~]

I, too, am baffled.

[Munkeeluvva]

We know, just answer the damn question. lol :-))))

[Goodsoulette]

I saw this question elsewhere recently and this was the answer given...

This is a proper answer, just in case you were expecting one. The word Alarm comes from the middle ages. Each village had at least one lookout, who would shout 'All Arm' when the village came under attack. That's when they all jumped up from their slumber to 'Arm' themselves with swords, sticks etc. When we started using clock alarms they were of course clockwork and a spring had to be wound up. The spring was held in place by a clip, which released the spring when the clock reached a specific time. This clip was knocked 'Off' the spring to allow the bell to ring, and so the alarm going 'Off' actually refers to the clip being released from the spring. When you say the alarm is 'On' you actually mean it is 'Set', and the clip is 'On' the spring.

[Munkeeluvva]

Well, that told me. lol

[~max~]

Well! I'll be!

[ELVIS68]

Yeh sod on bez, night x

[jacko50]

goodnight bez.