In a theatre or cinema, when the house lights dim or go down, the lights where the audience sits are switched off. When thehouse lights come up, the lights are switched on.
The house lights dimmed, flickered and went out.
house lights in British English
or houselights (ˈhaʊsˌlaɪts)
plural noun
the lights in the auditorium of a theatre, cinema, etc
Examples of 'house lights' in a sentence
house lights
I had a last look through the glasses as the house lights went down and saw James Silvester slipping in at the back
Adam, Paul A NASTY DOSE OF DEATH (2002)
There were no street or house lights - a main cable must be down.