stop the lights

interjection

An interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a situation.

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Meanings

interjection
  1. IrelandidiomaticAn interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a situation.

    Oh, stop the lights. The Priest is after parkin' across the street. I think he's comin' over here.

    2003, Ronan Noone, The Lepers of Baile Baiste, page 57
    1 more example

    Sure, stop the lights, I know all about it. There's a great shop in Phibsboro.Transformations' Any size you want.

    2003, Stella Feehily, Duck, page 62

Origin

* Originated as a catchphrase on the Irish quiz show Quicksilver, where contestants called out "Stop the lights" when they did not know the answer, to prevent loss of prize money for the next questions.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

stop the lights. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stop%20the%20lights

MLA

“stop the lights.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stop%20the%20lights. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stop the lights,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stop%20the%20lights.

Source: stop the lights on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.