Clarification/Follow-up by riccioni on 04/03/04 8:50 pm:
Dear Voiceguy2000:

Thank you very much for your prompt response.

If I want to use "turn signal" as a noun, is it correct and natural to say "to put the turn signal on/off-to put on/off the turn signal" and "to turn/switch the turn signal on/off-to turn/switch on/off the turn signal"?

Again, many, many thanks for your kind help.

Regards,
Paolo

Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 04/03/04 9:13 pm:
As best I can recall, thinking back to conversations in which the subject comes up, we would most likely say "put on" the turn signal and "turn off" the turn signal. (In the latter case we might just say "turn off the signal.")

All of the other variations are possible and probably are used here and there; it is my opinion, however, that "put on the [turn] signal" is probably heard more often than "put the [turn] signal on," and that "turn off the [turn] signal is probably heard more often than " turn the [turn] signal off." In other words, the phrasal verb is kept intact as a pair of adjoining words. "Switch on" and "switch off" are not terms that I recall hearing with any frequency in this particular use.

Samples collected from the net:

If you are in the left lane and someone is trying to pass you, put on your turn signal and move into the right lane as soon as safely possible.

I have a policy: No matter how late I am and no matter what my mood, if you put on your turn signal, I'll let you in. But just easing over (or zipping over depending on how asinine you are) and expecting me to step on my brakes to avoid a marriage of our cars is a bad idea.

If you are going to turn on your turn signal after you are already halfway into my lane, why bother at all?

Do not confuse other drivers by signaling too early or too late. Remember to turn off your turn signal if it does not turn off automatically.

After you've merged into traffic or changed lanes, remember to turn off your turn signal.

Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 04/03/04 11:47 pm:
Some more usage examples:

if you're in left-turn only or a right-turn only lane, do you still put on your signal?

This next one really bugs me. If you know that you are going to make a turn up ahead, put on your signal before you hit the brakes. This lets the driver behind you prepare for what you are going to do. Every day I see someone slow down, and then at the last second put on their blinker. It is in your own interest to use your signal properly and thus reduce the chances of getting rear ended.

What ever happened to giving yourself a car length to change lanes? Using your turn signal is the law -- not an option. But just because you put on your signal doesn't mean you can just cut in.

Notice how people seem to speed up when you put on your signal to change lanes?

Give yourself plenty of time for a lane change. Turn on your signal. If you are on the freeway, signal for five seconds before changing lanes.

Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 04/03/04 11:47 pm:
Some more usage examples:

if you're in left-turn only or a right-turn only lane, do you still put on your signal?

This next one really bugs me. If you know that you are going to make a turn up ahead, put on your signal before you hit the brakes. This lets the driver behind you prepare for what you are going to do. Every day I see someone slow down, and then at the last second put on their blinker. It is in your own interest to use your signal properly and thus reduce the chances of getting rear ended.

What ever happened to giving yourself a car length to change lanes? Using your turn signal is the law -- not an option. But just because you put on your signal doesn't mean you can just cut in.

Notice how people seem to speed up when you put on your signal to change lanes?

Give yourself plenty of time for a lane change. Turn on your signal. If you are on the freeway, signal for five seconds before changing lanes.