Go off

A sound that is programmed to be activated at a specific time, either pre-programmed or by stimulus. “Go off” also means to explode. The preposition “off” seems to be a contradiction, since the opposite, “on”, seems more logical.
-> Obviously a sun dial cannot be programmed to “go off” like an alarm clock… and that’s why the comic is funny.

1. A landmine goes off when someone steps on it, a hand grenade goes off when the safety pin is released and a bomb will go off when it is triggered through a number of mechanisms.

   

2.  When your alarm clock goes off, do you hit the snooze button so that you can sleep for an extra 5-10 minutes? How many times do you hit the snooze button before you finally get out of bed?

A drawback

A drawback is a synonym for a disadvantage/ a minus/ a con/ an inconvenience. (Advantages & disadvantage/ pluses & minuses/ pros and cons). We usually use “drawback” after something positive has already been said… we’re going to mention the negative points. There are drawbacks to almost everything!

1. If you are self-employed, like I am, it has its pluses: I get to create my own schedule, I have no boss, I get to work from home etc. It does have its drawbacks, though: The “salary” is not constant, I don’t get benefits like paid vacation, and I have other distractions at home… but I’d have to say that there are more positives than negatives. After all, “You can’t have your cake and eat it!” (you can’t have everything). What are the particular drawbacks in your line of work?
   

2.  Do you think there are any drawbacks to marriage, or do you think that marriage is a “bed of roses”? Surely the positives must outweigh the negatives, don’t you think? What are some of the positives?