“Going off” can also mean “be in the process of spoiling / going bad” when referring to foodstuffs, which I only mention to point out that the phrase has at least one alternative use beyond exploding, even if alarms and such aren’t considered. More usually in the past tense of “gone off”, but it gets some use in the present tense.
“Going off” can also mean “be in the process of spoiling / going bad” when referring to foodstuffs, which I only mention to point out that the phrase has at least one alternative use beyond exploding, even if alarms and such aren’t considered. More usually in the past tense of “gone off”, but it gets some use in the present tense.
If you’re willing to stretch the metaphor, I have had some phones go bad from no apparent cause beyond age.