Just realised I've been saying this wrong for over 30 years.

[FirstNameSurname]

Open and close a chair. I've always said this, as have my family. Asked a friend to close a chair for me and she hadn't a clue what I was one about. I've realised it doesnt make much sense. Now shes explained the in and out version I feel so stupid. Now I have the task of reteaching DCs.

Does anyone else say open and close chairs?

I don't suppose you're of Asian descent? All my relatives use open and close for the TV/ Lights/ Torch/ Computer... kind of follows the same logic I guess?

My friend insists on saying that she will side (set) the table. I’ve never heard the term and like you wonder if it’s one of those mis-heard terms.

Oh god @cluster I say shut the lights...I'm learning a lot today.

DoneLikeAKipper do you say 'open/close the lights'?

@HelmutFrontbut, I would translate putting a chair away as ‘closing’ as in ‘close in your chair’. I also have a habit of saying ‘keeping’ items instead of ‘putting them away’ - as in ‘I’m going to keep the dry dishes’. Makes total sense in my other language, I swear!

English as a first language, we always say “switch it up/down” when talking about the TV volume and only was told by a friend a few years ago that this isn’t commonly used.

Switch the tv up is compltely normal

You're doing better than some OP - my family's pet weird expression is "I beg your parsnip". It's been going for 70 years so far :D

I wasn't going to say as it could be outing but then I realized being the only family that says this is outing in its self.

British/irish heritage, English is my only language but parents started our family in Japan then spain.

Kipper, I asked as where I live the locals use open and close instead of switching on and off (when speaking in English) Same for mobile phones eg. 'I tried calling you but your phone was closed!'

It must be logical as it’s what my 3 year old says when he wants me to pull out his chair. I think it’s cute and I will be a bit sad when he stops. It’s not something anyone else in the family says, just what he thought of for himself. He also calls the food processor the ‘basher’ and roundabouts ‘turntables’ both of which are pretty logical.

Haha! I love these family quirks. Let yours survive in the next generation! Not quite the same but my bilingual brain still insists that people use a computer or play the piano behind it instead of in front of it, which I appreciate is very amusing to native speakers.

Nope that’s definitely just you OP

I come from a Greek speaking family, and open/close or shut the lights was common in our house growing up!

Should have said, that's the literal translation from Greek.

I’m glad to know switch the volume up is normal, I was made to feel quite odd!

'Boreis na kleine....'?

Did your parents speak English as their first language? Some languages use 'open the telephone' for answer a call.

I’m glad to know switch the volume up is normal, I was made to feel quite odd!

Only problem with that is that the old-but-still-very-funny joke doesn't work at all:

"I was offered a brand new 90" 4K Ultra HD TV for just £50, because the volume knob had broken and it was stuck on very loud. For that price, I couldn't turn it down!"

deste To side the table is an old expression for clearing the table. My family used to use that all the time. It comes from when people used to clear the crockery over to the sideboard between courses I think.

Push a chair in, pull a chair out

My Turkish speaking relatives "shut the light". Must be the literal translation.

My daughter says she will "set the bed" ie either make it, or get it ready for someone (pulled back invitingly, pillows plumped etc). I rather like it. She's 6.

oh and the other one says "unscaped" instead of "escaped" which I think is a very sensible reanalysis of what she's heard.