Being a writer by trade—with more than a few writer friends—we'll often get caught in discussions about semantics. Things like whether it's proper to say "done" or "finished," for example. But recently we got caught up in an Unplggd-worthy battle of meaning: When you want it to be cooler, do you turn the air conditioner "up" or turn it "down?"
You say po-TAY-to, I say po-TAH-to. You say turn it up, I say turn it down.
It can all seem really trivial. But when you're dealing with roommates, the specific language you choose can have a big effect on your communication.
Personally, I always say "turn the AC down." I'm always thinking about the temperature, and that means that to make it cooler, you've got to turn the thermostat down.
In my group, I was in the majority. But others still argued that it depends on how you say the "AC" part. If you're asking for it to be cooler, you could say both turn the air conditioner up, or turn the air conditioning down.
What do you think, readers? Are you an "upper" or a "downer?"
Should this be another thing to have to hash out with new roommates? Has your wording ever caused a dispute? Tell us in the comments!
(Top image: Flickr user @heylovedc under license from Creative Commons. Inside image: Photoillustration with images from Flickr users Brandi_ and sean dreilinger under license from Creative Commons.)
Apartment Therapy's Sofa Shopping Guide
Nikki’s Sweet and Cheery Print Studio
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Stanley Console by ...
5 Things Paris Taught Me About Travel
Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
I'd say you either turn the air conditioning UP or turn the thermostat down.
My reasoning is basically that when you talk about the "air conditioning" you're actually talking about the intensity of the machine's activity (not sure how else to phrase that). So by turning the A/C "up," you're increasing the rate at which it cools the air.
By turning the thermostat "down" you're talking more immediately about the air temperature. So colder = down.
just change your word from AC to temperature. Then it will be solved. You can turn the temp up or the temp down and there will be no confusion.
I just say hotter or colder and ask which a person means when they say up or down to avoid confusion.
How about keepin' it real and just "cut the air on/off?" I actually can't stand that terminology, but people around DC use it a fair amount.
Having had this conversation far to often I decided to move to Phoenix, AZ. I no longer have to think about someone's actual meaning when it comes to the AC. They always want it cooler.
I talk about it in regards to temperature. Turn the AC down means make it colder.
My wife, unfortunately, is the opposite. We always have confusing bits where we're trying to make it colder or warmer and not understanding each other.
I'd say you turn:
The air conditioner up and the thermostat down
Turn the AC up.
Turn the temperature down.
When you're talking about the AC, how often are you actually talking about the actual machine (unless you're in the business of building and repairing them)? Most people are talking about the temperature when they say they want the AC adjust. So turn the AC down means make it cooler, not make the AC machine work less so it get hotter.
Turning the AC up makes it colder. In response to swobo, when I'm talking about the AC, I'm ALWAYS talking about the machine, because AC means "air conditioner", which is the appliance itself. Thus, turning the AC on, or up, makes it colder. Turning the AC off, or down, makes it warmer. Like Trish, I never thought of this as an issue--there's only one way that seems right to me, and that's what everyone I know says.