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If water doesn't come out through the electric water pump, that is, if it dosen't take up water and it keeps running, air might enter it and it might stop working as well. What will be a natural way to describe that? I read "air entrainment", but I guess that it is rather formal. Is there any informal and natural way to describe that "air entering the pump"?

Turn it off, or air will enter into it.

Turn it off, or it'll take up air.

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A polite yet instructive way to say it might be:

Turn off the pump to prevent air from entering into it.

This sounds cautionary, but by avoiding "or" it sounds less like a threat!

"Taking in air" should be easily understood; not so much "taking up", which idiomatically means something else entirely.

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  • And what about: "taking up air" – It's about English Jun 10 '19 at 7:47
  • @It'saboutEnglish Perhaps "taking in air". "Up" is a specific direction. – Astralbee Jun 10 '19 at 7:50
  • So will it sound okay if I say: "The water pump will take in air"? – It's about English Jun 10 '19 at 7:51
  • @It'saboutEnglish yes that sounds fine. – Astralbee Jun 10 '19 at 7:51
  • Last question. What will sound more natural: "take in air" or "enter into"? – It's about English Jun 10 '19 at 7:52

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