asleep at the switch

Etymology
Probably an allusion to the important responsibilities of a railway switchman.

Adjective

 * 1)  Neglectful of an important task, responsibility, or opportunity.
 * 2) * 1974, S. D. Isard, "Review of Computer Models of Thought and Language," Science, New Series, vol. 186, no. 4164 (15 Nov.), p. 625:
 * It is sometimes difficult to guess whether a sentence has been garbled by the author or the typesetter. . . . In either case, the editors were asleep at the switch.
 * 1) * 2003, Donald Bartlett and James Steele, "Asleep at the Switch," Time, 13 Oct.:
 * Why America (but not Canada) failed to set up a needed synfuels industry.
 * 1) * 2003, Donald Bartlett and James Steele, "Asleep at the Switch," Time, 13 Oct.:
 * Why America (but not Canada) failed to set up a needed synfuels industry.