[General] The opposite of 'dip your headlights', please!

[Mehrgan]

Hi,

Could anyone please tell me what the right expression is when you wnat the beam from your headlights point upwards? Thanks!

 

[Mehrgan]

I wonder how 'full beam' is used in an expression in everyday English. Ta!

 

[J&K Tutoring]

First of all, it would be rare for someone to feel they want or need to tell you to switch to the brighter headlight setting- you're free to make that decision without any help, and that is why you haven't heard this before.

Second, I imagine this is the kind of thing that would vary regionally, so an answer from one part of the world (or even from another part of one's own country) might be different.

Where I come from (Midwest US), we don't say 'dip' to refer to low beam. We say 'dim' your lights. We refer to the high-beam setting as 'bright lights'. 'Last night I was driving along, and some jerk had his bright lights on. I flashed my brights at him, but he didn't dim his lights until he got past me.'

 

[Tdol]

Dip and full beam are used in BrE.

I wonder how 'full beam' is used in an expression in everyday English. Ta!​

I was dazzled because the other driver had his lights on full beam.

 

[Rover_KE]

If instructing a learner for example you might say 'Switch to full beam'.

 

[BobK]

I haven't heard 'full beam', though its meaning would be obvious. The version I've met is 'main beam'.

b

 

[BobSmith]

Or simply "brights". Put on your brights. More formally would be, put on your high-beams.

There's also "daytime running lights" and "fog lights" in the U.S.

 

[shannico]

All right, like a "good Italian driver", that often happens to me and I do get into trouble a lot. I'm often told " Don't you drive with your full beams on!!! "

Dip and full beam are used in BrE.



I was dazzled because the other driver had his lights on full beam.

 

[SoothingDave]

First of all, it would be rare for someone to feel they want or need to tell you to switch to the brighter headlight setting- you're free to make that decision without any help, and that is why you haven't heard this before.

Second, I imagine this is the kind of thing that would vary regionally, so an answer from one part of the world (or even from another part of one's own country) might be different.

Where I come from (Midwest US), we don't say 'dip' to refer to low beam. We say 'dim' your lights. We refer to the high-beam setting as 'bright lights'. 'Last night I was driving along, and some jerk had his bright lights on. I flashed my brights at him, but he didn't dim his lights until he got past me.'

i would say "high beams," not "brights." Must be a regional thing.

 

[Mehrgan]

Many thanks to all for the helpful phrases!

 

[Ouisch]

i would say "high beams," not "brights." Must be a regional thing.

I know what "high beams" means, and sometimes use the phrase, but upon reflection it seem like in my area (Michigan -Midwestern US) we usually say "brights" or "bright lights". For example, when a driver approaching from the opposite direction on a dark, rural highway approaches we might say "that jerk is blinding me with his brights" or "he still has his bright lights on".