And now, words and their stories from VOA Learning English. Technology is always progressing. Today, many modern devices can be controlled by touch or voice. This has led to some traditional electronic controls. such as dials and switches, being replaced with new technologies. Digital displays have also become increasingly common. For example, Digital number readouts have long replaced the hands on many clocks. Many other devices also now operate...
purely with digital tools instead of mechanical systems. But some expressions and idioms used by English speakers still describe older technologies. First, let's talk about dials. These controls are used for changing settings on a piece of equipment, like a radio or old television. We use the dial to tune in to a specific channel. That's where the expressions dialed in and tuned in come from.
If we are dialed in or tuned in to a radio or television program, we can hear it clearly. There is no noise or static. The same can be said when using these terms in personal conversations. For example, if you are dialed into a project or problem, you know exactly what needs to be done. You are thinking clearly about it and remain very focused. And when you are tuned in, you understand clearly what is going on around you.
Don't touch that dial. And stay tuned are two ways to tell someone to keep watching or listening to a program. Now let's talk about switches. These are built to either be off or on. There are no in-between settings like with a dial. So when we flip the switch, we make something happen. It can also mean that we suddenly change something. Let's listen to an example.
The restaurant's change to all organic food happened slowly over time. It wasn't a matter of flipping a switch. Now for our last expression. To move the needle. Needles on measuring devices, like a scale, move to show a desired level has been reached. So when something moves the needle, It causes a noticeable change in something, usually for the good. And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
Don't forget to tune in again for another story about American English expressions. Until next time, I'm Ana Mateo.