collocation · informal
turn on airplane mode
UK/tɜːn ɒn ˈeəpleɪn məʊd/US/tɜːrn ɒn ˈerˌpleɪn moʊd/turn ON AIR·plane MODE
to activate a setting on a phone that disables calls, messages and wireless connections
Examples
“I turned on airplane mode during the flight to avoid roaming charges.”
“Before the exam, she turned on airplane mode so notifications wouldn’t disturb her.”
“If your phone keeps vibrating, try turning on airplane mode for a while.”
Band 8 sentence
“To avoid interruptions when teaching, I usually turn on airplane mode and leave my phone out of sight.”
Collocations
- turn on airplane mode
- switch to airplane mode
Word family
Common mistakes
turn on airplane→turn on airplane mode
switch to airplane→switch to airplane mode
Say it for a higher band
5turn on airplane→6switch to airplane mode→7+turn on airplane mode
Synonyms
enable airplane mode
Easily confused
do not disturb mode
“I put my phone on do not disturb mode during the meeting so calls are silent but still allowed.”
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