asleep at the switch
Not paying attention
Asleep at the switch means failing to respond when action is needed—negligent at a critical moment.
The phrase comes from railroad switching, where an inattentive operator could cause a derailment.
Now used broadly for any lapse in attention: The security team was asleep at the switch when the breach occurred.
How did this get past legal? Someone was asleep at the switch.
- negligentFailing in due care
- unmindfulLacking awareness or attention
- neglectfulFailing to care properly
- obliviousLacking any awareness
- miss the boatFail to seize opportunity
careless · drop the ball · caught napping · inattentive · not paying attention · dereliction · unobservant · heedless · out to lunch · head in the clouds · lax · remiss · slack · indifferent · lost the plot · fallout · preparedness · stewardship
asleep at the switchon the job
Actively performing duties
Johnny-on-the-spot · diligent · conscientious · dependable · reliable
asleep, sleep, sleepy, sleepily, sleepiness, sleeper, sleeping, sleepless, sleeplessness