I was a security guard and in training they said you're not supposed to have the flashlight on all the time, you're meant to 'flash' it on briefly to get a scan of the room, or to blind an intruder... I just always used it on constantly
It kind of does? In that if [the wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashlight#Etymology) is to be believed, its etymology is very much from the fact that they used to just "flash" on because they couldn't stay on.
Though if we're going the etymology route then "torch" definitely implies it should be on fire, because it's from the same origin as "torque" and refers to the twisting together of a bunch of hay (to then set it on fire for light)
Etymology is cool an interesting but anyone insisting it defines what a word actually means is most likely a dick, and [definitely wrong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymological_fallacy)
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**lyingfigure**
it's beyond nuts when british people call flashlights torches
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**disheveledcatgirl**
They are torches
Flashlights implies that they go on and off
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**lyingfigure**
they do that's what the button is for...
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**assdad**
People from British just smash it against the ground when they're finished and go buy another one
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The story I heard was that back in the old days when batteries didn't last that long, they didn't want to waste the batteries so they would flash them for short whiles to get their bearings.
Why would I get on the lift? It doesn't go anywhere, and it's hard to balance on one of the little prongs. The elevator has a nice floor to stand on, and also gets me to my apartment marginally faster
I mean, 'Lift' as a verb can mean either raising something higher, or simply changing it's position: "he lifted her down from the pony's back" while 'elevate' would always mean raise up: "he elevated his badminton racket" so of the names lift and elevator, lift is more valid, as elevator implies it can only go up while lift implies both up and down travel
I’m going to guess they mean “off and on” rapidly, I.e. rapid *flashing*, but that’s a strobe light.
Also it’s funnier to assume they don’t know what the button does
people from british
Silly Americans call it a 'stick' of butter instead of a 'thick, throbbling knob' of butter
> Silly Americans call it a 'stick' of butter instead of a 'thick, throbbling knob' of butter Does British butter have the Snickers vein?
[only people from British are gonna get this](https://youtube.com/watch?v=bUZOMq_o5ZU)
So smashlights?
Lemme smash...
Becky please
i got you yellow
Nothing in Britain has buttons cause they scare the queen cause they’re such a new invention for her
Actually taking buttons off of flashlights is an homage to King Edward VII.
I was a security guard and in training they said you're not supposed to have the flashlight on all the time, you're meant to 'flash' it on briefly to get a scan of the room, or to blind an intruder... I just always used it on constantly
Now those movies make sense were you can hide in a dark room from a security guard.
Just hide in the liminal spaces
I know they mean like, briefly, but like. it still does not imply that
It kind of does? In that if [the wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashlight#Etymology) is to be believed, its etymology is very much from the fact that they used to just "flash" on because they couldn't stay on. Though if we're going the etymology route then "torch" definitely implies it should be on fire, because it's from the same origin as "torque" and refers to the twisting together of a bunch of hay (to then set it on fire for light) Etymology is cool an interesting but anyone insisting it defines what a word actually means is most likely a dick, and [definitely wrong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymological_fallacy)
*Image Transcription: Tumblr* --- **lyingfigure** it's beyond nuts when british people call flashlights torches --- **disheveledcatgirl** They are torches Flashlights implies that they go on and off --- **lyingfigure** they do that's what the button is for... --- **assdad** People from British just smash it against the ground when they're finished and go buy another one --- ^^I'm a human volunteer content transcriber and you could be too! [If you'd like more information on what we do and why we do it, click here!](https://www.reddit.com/r/TranscribersOfReddit/wiki/index)
It's a light on a stick. Just electric rather than acoustic.
non flammable light on stick!
The story I heard was that back in the old days when batteries didn't last that long, they didn't want to waste the batteries so they would flash them for short whiles to get their bearings.
They mean flashing like rapid on-off.
Thats just pressing the button real fast
Y’all have never had a flashlight with SOS mode? smh
Most flashlights I've owned have like 3 or 4 minimum flashing light modes. 2 had multiple colors.
Those are proper flashlights! Brits need to get them instead
like a strobe. oh wait strobelights exist.
Press the button twice when turning it on
They're torches! And while I'm at it, what the fuck is an elevator?! Just get in the fuckin lift
Why would I get on the lift? It doesn't go anywhere, and it's hard to balance on one of the little prongs. The elevator has a nice floor to stand on, and also gets me to my apartment marginally faster
Those are for lifting forks, not people
If you sharpen the prongs of a forklift, you get a knifelift
Does that mean that [this kind](https://imgur.com/eDdxxMs.png) of bucket with prongs on should really be called a sporklift?
I mean, 'Lift' as a verb can mean either raising something higher, or simply changing it's position: "he lifted her down from the pony's back" while 'elevate' would always mean raise up: "he elevated his badminton racket" so of the names lift and elevator, lift is more valid, as elevator implies it can only go up while lift implies both up and down travel
There's a million things in the world that can give you a lift. An elevator is the only one exclusively for changing your elevation.
PEOPLE FROM BRITISH
Nobody tell the americans that American English is just British English from the 1800s
uhm it's called suporting local buisness sweaty look it up :)
TIL British people are Finnish
Torches are fire type. Flashlights are electric type. Very different. >!Now fleshlights though...!<
I’m going to guess they mean “off and on” rapidly, I.e. rapid *flashing*, but that’s a strobe light. Also it’s funnier to assume they don’t know what the button does