turn1 verbturn2 noun
turnturn1 /tɜːn $ tɜːrn/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 
WORD ORIGINturn1
Origin:
1000-1100 Partly from Latin tornare ‘to turn on a lathe’, from turnus ‘lathe’, from Greek tornos; partly from Old French torner, tourner ‘to turn’, from Latin tornareVERB TABLE
turn
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | turn |
| he, she, it | turns | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | turned |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have turned |
| he, she, it | has turned | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had turned |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will turn |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have turned |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am turning |
| he, she, it | is turning | |
| you, we, they | are turning | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was turning |
| you, we, they | were turning | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been turning |
| he, she, it | has been turning | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been turning |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be turning |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been turning |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "What do you think we should do?" she said, turning to her husband.
- "What time is it?" "It just turned 3:00."
- As the propeller stopped turning, Grady ran up to the plane.
- Campbell turned and walked out of the room.
- Charles turned his gaze upward to admire the ceiling.
- Continue to turn the fritter until both sides are golden brown.
- He saw a police car up ahead, so he turned and went down a side street.
- Heat the peas briefly till they turn bright green.
- I'll read the story and you turn the pages. OK, honey?
- I turned a corner and nearly ran into Caroline.
- I felt myself turn red with embarrassment.
- I got a perm that turned my hair green.
- I heard the door knob turning, and then Frank opened the door and tiptoed in.
- If we turn the table around we can fit more chairs in the room.
- It's getting late - I think we should turn back before it gets dark.
- It was late autumn and the leaves were slowly turning golden.
- Just when we were all getting our summer clothes out, it turned cold again.
- She turned and looked Seth straight in the eyes.
- She heard the door opening and turned to see who was coming in.
- She put the key in the ignition and turned it, but nothing happened.
- An event that made heads turn and tongues wag.
- It turned out about the good-looking fellow from Essex County that he was a football coach who also did some counseling.
- Landladies had mysteriously found tenants in the few minutes between a telephone inquiry and one's turning up on the doorstep.
- No wonder he has turned the Newtslaying mission over to his deputy, David Bonior.
- North Beach and Union Square merchants wait for customers who turn back, frustrated by street closures and a lack of parking.
- Peter Allis has turned golf into a kind of harmless interview where public figures hit a few shots and chat about themselves.
- Philomela accordingly turned to her loom.
THESAURUS
to move around a central or fixed point: · The wheels of the train began to turn.
(also go round British English) to turn around a central point. Go around is a little more informal than turn and is very common in everyday English: · When the fan goes around, the warm air is pushed back downwards.
to turn around and around a central point. Rotate and revolve are more formal than turn and sound more technical: · The Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours.· The stage revolves at various points during the performance.
to turn around many times very quickly: · The ice skater began to spin faster and faster.
to spin around extremely quickly, often in a powerful or uncontrolled way: · The blades of the helicopter whirled overhead.
to spin around quickly, especially as part of a dance or performance: · The couples were twirling around on the dance floor.
to move around quickly in a circular movement, especially when the movement goes outwards or upwards from the center: · Her white skirt swirled around her legs as she danced.· The leaves began to swirl around.
to move in a continuous curve that gets nearer to or further from its central point as it goes around: · The smoke spiralled toward the ceiling.
Longman Language Activatorto go around in circles if something turns , it moves around a fixed central point: · Slowly the wheels of the train began to turn.· I heard the door knob turning, and then Frank opened the door and tiptoed in.· As the propeller stopped turning, Grady ran up to the plane.
also go round British to move in a continuous circular movement: · When the fan goes around it forces the warm air back down.· The gear was going round, but it didn't seem to be catching on anything.
to turn around many times very quickly: · The ice skater began to spin faster and faster.· The wheels were spinning in the mud, but the car wouldn't move.spin aroundalso + round British: · The boy was spinning around in his father's desk chair.
to turn around and around a fixed point: · The Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours.· A disco ball revolved slowly over the empty dance floor.· The stage rotates giving the audience a constantly changing view.
also go/run/drive etc round in circles especially British to go, run, drive etc continuously or repeatedly around in a circular way: · The children went round in circles till the music stopped.· We were driving around in circles, weaving through the parking lot.
also go/run/drive etc round and round British to go around in circles many times: · Billy will sit and watch his train going round and round on its little track for hours.· The steers walked restlessly around and around their pen.
to spin around extremely quickly, often in an uncontrolled way: · The blades of the helicopter whirled powerfully overhead.whirl aroundalso + round British: · Flies whirled round the piles of sticky sweets.· Dust and sand were whirling around in the air, as the desert wind began to get stronger.
to move slowly upwards or downwards in a circular way around a central point, while also moving either in towards the centre or out from it: · Smoke spiralled upward from the chimney.· We watched the leaves spiral down from the trees in the cold autumn wind.
if water, dust, mist etc swirls , it keeps turning around quickly in a twisting, circular movement: · Dust swirled like smoke in the evening sunshine.swirl aroundalso round British: · Jessie's pale dress swirled round her slender ankles.· The wind swirling around the tree had blown all the snow away from its trunk.
if a bird or aircraft circles , it flies around above a particular place, waiting for something: · We all looked towards the sky where the vultures were circling.· The plane circled the runway several times before landing.circle overhead/above etc: · Helicopters circled overhead, trying to get pictures of the crime scene.
if someone twirls, they spin around very quickly, especially as part of a dance: · Rachel took her father's hand and twirled in and out under his arm.twirl around/about: · Half a dozen couples were twirling about to a waltz.
to make something turn around to make something turn by moving it with your hand: · Tim turned the handle slowly and pushed open the door.· She put the key in the ignition and turned it, but nothing happened.turn something around (=so that it is facing the opposite direction): · If we turn the table around we can fit more chairs in the room.
to turn something with a quick firm circular movement: · "I can't get the top off." "Try twisting it the other way."· We twisted and tugged to get the mussels loose from their shells.
to turn something such as a handle or part of a machine around and around, especially in order to make something move or start working: · You wind the handle on the side to make the music play.· She wound the car window down to speak to the police officer.· My watch has stopped - I must have forgotten to wind it.
to turn something around on a central rod or point, usually so that it is facing a different direction: · He swivelled the camera on the tripod to follow her as she crossed the yard.swivel something aroundalso swivel something round British: · She swivelled the computer screen around so that I could see it too.
British /twirl American to turn something small backwards and forwards many times with your fingers, especially because you are bored, or are trying to make something work: · She sat in the bar twirling the stem of her wine glass, wishing she were somewhere else.· He kept twiddling the knobs on the radio trying to get a signal.
to make something turn in circles very quickly to make something turn around and around extremely quickly: · Spin the wheel of the bicycle to make sure that it is fastened correctly.· He spun the dial on the padlock right, then left, then right again.
to repeatedly make something turn in circles or spin around, especially with your fingers: · I've never been able to twirl a baton.· He picked up a pen and twirled it between his fingers.· The man, without answering, began to twirl the ends of his moustache.
to make something spin around in the air extremely quickly: · Whirl the ingredients in a blender at high speed for a minute.· The warriors approached, whirling their swords and spears in the air.
a turning movement the circular movement that a person or object makes when turning something or being turned: · She can do a 360-degree turn on water skis.· Loosen the screw one complete turn in order to release the valve.turn of: · With three swift turns of the wheel, he steered the boat away from the rocks.
one complete circular movement around a fixed or central point - use this in technical contexts: · The shaft spins at 950 revolutions per minute.· The planet rotates in the same direction as its revolution around the sun.
a very fast turn that is repeated many times: · He made a quick spin to avoid the oncoming player.spin of: · the spin of a propeller
turning with a circular movement designed to turn with a circular movement: · A revolving door led into the hotel lobby.· The 28-story building is topped by a revolving restaurant that offers ever-changing views of the city.
able to turn with a circular movement - use this especially in technical contexts: · The plastic is cut by a rotating disc.· The stones are polished in a rotating drum full of abrasive powder.
to turn your head or your body to turn your head or body so that you are looking in a different direction: · Campbell turned and walked out of the room.turn to: · "What do you think we should do?" she said, turning to her husband.turn to do something: · She heard the door opening and turned to see who was coming in.
also turn round British to turn your body so that you are looking in the opposite direction: · Ian, turn round and face the front!· I turned around quickly to see if anyone was following me.· "Does my dress look OK?" "Turn around and let me see the back."
to turn so that you are no longer facing someone, especially because you want to avoid them: · Alice turned away with tears in her eyes.· The scene was so sickening I had to turn away.turn away from: · She frowned and turned away from him without speaking.
to turn so that you are no longer facing someone, especially because you are angry or disappointed, or because you are deliberately ignoring them: · As soon as I turn my back, the children start to misbehave.turn your back on: · Don't turn your back on me - I'm talking to you!· She turned her back on him and began to walk away.
to turn your head in order to look at someone or in order to look away from someone: · She turned her head to avoid making eye contact with the beggar.· Whenever Suzie walks into a room all the men immediately turn their heads.
to quickly and suddenly turn, especially before walking away: · David angrily turned on his heel and marched towards the door.· When her ex-husband entered the room, she turned on her heel and left.
also swing round British to turn around suddenly and quickly, especially because you are angry or surprised: · He swung around at the sound of her voice and smiled at her.· I felt a hand on my shoulder and swung round quickly to find Chris standing behind me.
also spin round British to turn around very quickly, especially because you are angry or because something unexpected has suddenly happened: · The sudden crash made her spin round and look back down the passage.· Dobbs yelled back and spun around with clenched fists, ready to fight.
to turn around quickly as if you are fixed to a central point, or when you are sitting in a chair which can turn round: · Ralph swivelled in his chair and looked directly at Meg.swivel aroundalso + round British: · Mr Tench swivelled round in astonishment as the men burst through his office door.
to turn your body when you are lying down to change the position of your body while you are lying down, so that you are facing in a different direction: · The bed squeaks every time I turn over.· Turn over and I'll give you a massage.· He opened his eyes and turned over on his side, facing her.
to turn your body so that it is facing the opposite direction, in a single smooth movement: · The cat purred, rolled over on its back, and stretched.· I heard the alarm clock, but I rolled over and went back to sleep.
to change your direction when you are walking or driving to change your direction when you are walking or driving: · He saw a police car up ahead, so he turned and went down a side street.· Soon after leaving harbour, the ships turned and headed north.turn left/right: · Turn left at the next intersection.turn back: · It's getting late - I think we should turn back before it gets dark.turn off (=leave a street in order to go down another street): · Turn off Delaney Road just after the church.turn onto/into (=start going along another street after changing direction): · Turn onto Lowell Street, then go straight for three blocks.turn a corner: · I turned a corner and nearly ran into Caroline.
to turn while you are moving so that you start going in a different direction: · The horse abruptly changed direction, nearly throwing the rider off.· Changing direction on skis isn't difficult once you've learned the technique.
if a vehicle, ship, or aircraft changes course , it changes the direction in which it is travelling: · The yacht changed course and approached the island.· The plane must change course to avoid flying through the storm.
if a vehicle or moving object veers , it suddenly and unexpectedly changes direction: veer off/away/across etc: · The car suddenly veered across the road into oncoming traffic.· The boat was heading for the rocks but at the last minute veered off in another direction.
if a vehicle or moving object swerves , it suddenly changes direction, especially in order to avoid hitting something: · The driver swerved to avoid a child, and crashed into a signpost.swerve across/into/towards etc: · Dozens were injured when a passenger bus swerved into the wrong lane and slammed into another bus.
when a road or river changes direction the place where a road or river turns: · The taxi went around the bend at an alarming speed.bend in: · The balcony overlooked a wide bend in the river.round a bend: · As we rounded the bend, I could see the town up ahead.
a place where there is a bend in the road: · He lost control of the car on a sharp curve.round a curve: · I rounded the curve looking for a place to pull over.
also turning British a place where you can turn and go into another road: · Take the first turning after the traffic lights.· We were supposed to take Highway 12, but I think we missed the turn.
if a road, path, or river winds , it frequently turns and changes direction, in smooth curves: wind between/through/up etc: · A narrow road wound up the hillside towards the little house.· The path wound through the orchard and between small beds of flowers.wind its way: · The staircase appears almost to be floating on air, as it winds its way up three stories.
to frequently turn and change direction, especially in small but sharp turns: twist up/through/towards etc: · A dry stream bed twisted through thick tree roots.twist its way: · We approached Assisi via the dusty road that twists its way up Monte Subasio.
to turn and change direction, especially around things, in smooth curves: weave through/up/across etc: · The river weaved across the plain, towards the sea.weave its way: · The old highway weaved its way through Tucson.
when a vehicle, ship etc turns over in an accident if a vehicle turns over , it turns upside down, especially as a result of an accident: · The car smashed into the post, turned over, and burst into flames.· The train was travelling so fast that when it came off the rails it turned over onto its roof.
if a vehicle or ship rolls over , it turns upside down because it is not correctly balanced: · The truck jack-knifed and then rolled over.· Ships have stabilizers to prevent them from rolling over in rough seas.
if a boat capsizes , or someone or something capsizes it, it turns over in the water: · The ship capsized in rough waters with the loss of 208 lives.· People were fighting for places in the lifeboat, and there was a real danger of it capsizing.· A huge wave struck the side of our boat, almost capsizing it.
if a vehicle or boat overturns , or someone or something overturns it, it turns over: · The truck had overturned, but the driver was not injured.· The whole crew was drowned when their boat overturned in a storm.· During the riots several cars were overturned and set on fire.
to turn something upside down: turn something over · Do not turn your exam papers over until I tell you to.· She turned the envelope over and began making notes on the back.turn over something · The children were turning over the rocks to see what was underneath.
to turn something so that the other side of it is facing upwards or outwards: · Continue to turn the fritter until both sides are golden brown.· I'll read the story and you turn the pages. OK, honey?turn something upside down: · Take out the spark plugs and turn the cylinder block upside down.
to turn something over with a quick, sharp movement: · Come help me flip this mattress.flip something over: · She flipped the pancakes over with one smooth movement.flip over something: · I flipped over the card to see what was written on the other side.
formal to turn something upside down: · A camera inverts the image it receives.· Invert the cake and pan on a wire rack and remove the pan.
ways of saying how old someone is · Julie's going to be thirty next month.· When I was eighteen, I thought I knew everything.· Luke is three and Marie is seven.
· Simone is nearly fifteen years old.· My sister got married when she was thirty-eight years old.
formal · He was tall, well-dressed and appeared to be about thirty-five years of age.· Elephants do not become sexually active until they are fifteen to eighteen years of age.
used especially in written descriptions: · The child, aged ten, was last seen in a park on Bishop Street.· A recent survey of youths aged thirteen to eighteen shows that twelve percent are smoking regularly. · Females aged eighteen to thirty-four have an increased risk of contracting the disease.
(=aged 5/10/35 etc) used especially in written descriptions: · His ninety-five-year-old great-grandfather still rides his bike every day.· She has to pick up her twelve-year-old son from school at 3:30.· Twenty-one-year-old Elizabeth Parker will be the soloist in tonight's concert.
use this especially to say what someone who is a particular age can do: · If a man of fifty-five loses his job, he'll never get another.· It's so simple, a child of four could use it.
use this to give a general idea of how old someone is: · He was tall, with brown hair and dark eyes - I'd say he was in his forties.early twenties/30s etc: · In my early twenties, I applied for my first job as a teacher.mid-twenties/30s etc: · She's retired, but she's only in her mid-50s.late twenties/30s etc: · A lot of women in their late twenties start thinking about having a family.
to have recently become 20, 30 etc: · McClelland recently turned forty.
informal between the ages of 20 and 29, 30 and 39 etc: · a forty-something couple from Orlando
to ask for help or kindness British /ask a favor American to ask someone to be kind or generous by helping you do something or by doing something for you: · Could I ask a favour? I need someone to collect the children from school tonight. Are you free?ask somebody a favour: · I need to ask you a big favor. Could you lend me $1000 till I get my tax refund?
if someone in a very bad situation turns to someone, they ask that person for help, comfort, sympathy etc: · After my wife died I didn't know who to turn to.· Eventually I turned to an organization that helps people with drug and alcohol problems.turn to somebody for something: · When things got really bad, I turned to my family for help.
also call upon formal to ask someone for help when you have a problem and especially when they have offered to help you when they can: call on/upon somebody: · If you ever have a problem, you know that you can always call on us.call on/upon somebody for something: · Members of the religious sect are very reluctant to call on outsiders for help.call on/upon somebody to do something: · Being the only person in the office who speaks German, I'm often called upon to translate.
to make a public request, for example on television or in the newspapers, for money, food, information etc, especially in order to help someone who is in a very bad situation: appeal for: · The Red Cross is appealing for donations of food and clothing following the earthquake.appeal to somebody for something: · The Murrays have appealed to the public for any information about their missing daughter.appeal to somebody to do something: · The speaker had appealed to the miners to vote for their union.
to attack someone suddenly and unexpectedly if a group of people ambush someone, they hide and wait for them and then suddenly attack them: · The rebel group successfully ambushed a regiment of American reinforcements.· He was afraid he would be stopped by government troops or, even worse, ambushed by the Vietcong. · Parker ambushed a school bus on a field trip and held 17 children and their teacher hostage.
to suddenly be attacked by people or animals, especially when you are going somewhere - used especially in written or literary contexts: · He had been set upon by bat-wielding racists, so he understood how I felt.· The drivers were set upon by a mob, including several women, which showered them with stones.
also turn upon to suddenly attack someone you are with, especially when it is very unexpected: · Red with rage, Frank turned on Anna, grasping her arm in a vice-like grip.· Then the warriors turned upon each other, for a fight to the death.
to make a quick sudden attack especially on someone who is not expecting to be attacked: · They felt sure the killer would strike again, but could not say when.· The police struck at dawn in a carefully timed operation to catch the bombers.
to suddenly jump on another person from a place where you have been hiding, in order to catch or attack them: be ready/waiting/set to pounce: · He crouched on the ground, like an animal ready to pounce.pounce on: · Before he could rescue it, the cat pounced on the bird and carried it to the bushes.
informal to attack someone suddenly and usually from behind, in order to injure them or to rob them: · Two guys tried to jump me in the park last night.· He climbed over the wall and jumped the guard, easily overpowering him.
with adjectives if you become rich, famous, worried etc, you start to be rich, famous, worried etc: · Julian's book was a big success and he quickly became rich and famous.· The weather was becoming warmer.· After a while my eyes became accustomed to the dark.become aware/certain/convinced etc that: · Slowly she became aware that there was someone else in the room.it becomes clear/evident/obvious etc that: · It soon became clear that the fire was out of control.
to become: · It normally gets dark at about 8.30 p.m.· The man in the shop got annoyed and started shouting at me.· The situation doesn't seem to be getting any better.· I think I'm getting too old for this kind of thing.· You'll need to take out insurance, in case anything gets damaged in the move.
: grow old/tired/worse/larger etc to slowly and gradually become old, tired etc: · As we grow old, we worry more about our health.· I'd been waiting for forty minutes and I was beginning to grow uneasy.· The sound of footsteps grew louder.· Fiona was growing tired of being treated in this way.
to become - only use go with these words: go grey/white/red/dark etc: · Her face went bright red with embarrassment.go mad/wild/crazy: · Your dad'll go crazy when he finds out.go quiet/silent: · As soon as the band started playing, the crowd went silent.go bad/sour/cold: · My coffee's gone cold.
to become - only use turn with these words: turn red/white/blue etc: · It was late autumn and the leaves were slowly turning golden.turn nasty/mean: · When I said that I was not prepared to help him, he suddenly turned nasty.turn sour: · Their friendship was beginning to turn sour.turn cold/warm: · Just when we were all getting our summer clothes out, it turned cold again.
to start to behave better to change the way you behave, and start being obedient, hard-working etc, after behaving badly for a long time: · It's possible the college might take you back, but first you'll have to convince them you've mended your ways.· If he doesn't mend his ways he'll be in jail by the time he's eighteen.
to decide that you will change the way you behave, because you really want to stop behaving badly, breaking the law etc: · I know I've done some bad things in the past, but now I'm turning over a new leaf.· After being released from jail, Tony decided to turn over a new leaf.
to start behaving better after a situation in which people did not trust you because you were behaving illegally or dishonestly: · She told her son to clean up his act or move out.· Tish has really cleaned up her act - she doesn't drink or smoke pot any more.
American to start to behave well after you had been behaving badly: · You'd better straighten up or you'll never make it out of high school.
British someone who has changed completely and no longer behaves badly or does things they should not do - often used humorously: · "Does Alex still drink as much as he used to?" "No, he's a reformed character now."
to stop being a criminal and decide to obey the law and live an honest life: · He's been going straight for about six months now.· You can't expect these people to go straight when no one's ever going to give them a job.
to become different · She's changed a lot since she went to college.· It's amazing how much things have changed since we were young.· Her expression did not change, and she answered me calmly.· "The telecommunications industry is changing at lightning speed," said Richard Miller, the company's chief financial officer.change into · The caterpillar eventually changes into a beautiful butterfly.change from something to/into something · In the 18th century, Britain changed from a mainly agricultural society to an industrial one.change to · The lights changed to green, and the motorbike sped off.change colourBritish change color American · It was the end of September, and the leaves on the trees were starting to change color.change out of all recognition (=change completely) · The town I grew up in has changed out of all recognition.
becoming different: · I find it hard to keep up with changing fashions.· His book is concerned with the changing role of fathers.· Ansel Adams loved wide landscapes and changing light.constantly/rapidly changing: · Businesses need to be flexible enough to adapt to changing conditions in a rapidly changing world.fast-changing/ever-changing (=changing quickly or frequently): · Job insecurity is widespread in the fast-changing American workplace.
to change - use this especially about someone's feelings or behaviour, or about a situation: · His mood suddenly altered and he seemed a little annoyed.· His defence lawyer said that Wilson's lifestyle had altered dramatically since the offences three years ago. · Her face hadn't altered much over the years.
to become something completely different: · In fairy tales when the princess kisses a frog, it turns into a handsome prince.· A trip to the beach turned into a nightmare for a local family yesterday.
to suddenly become cold, unpleasant etc: · The ink-black nights were turning cold, and the stars were frosty and fewer. · The protest turned violent when groups of demonstrators stormed the parliament building.
especially spoken to stop being one thing and start being something else, especially something very different: · In less than five years, he went from being a communist to being a member of the military government.· His face went from pink to bright red.· The Mexican economy went from boom to bust very quickly, with disastrous results for the people.go from bad to worse (=change from being bad to being even worse): · After Kathy lost her job, things went from bad to worse, and eventually she and Ed split up.
to make something completely different to completely change something, especially so that it is much better: · Well, you've certainly transformed this place - it looks great!transform something into something: · In the last 20 years, Korea has been transformed into a major industrial nation.totally/completely transform: · When she smiled, her face was completely transformed.
to make something become a completely different thing or make someone become a completely different kind of person: · We're planning to turn the spare bedroom into a study.· The war had turned Cassidy into a violent thug.· Edwards saved the Tivoli, an elegant 1920s art deco hotel, and turned it into a movie theatre.
also revolutionise British to completely and permanently change the way people do something or think about something, especially because of a new idea or invention: · Computers have revolutionized the way we work.· This important discovery has revolutionized our understanding of the universe.· The new technology is revolutionising the way music is played, composed and studied.
to change a process or decision so that it is the opposite of what it was before: · The longer the economic decline is allowed to go on the more difficult it will be to reverse it.· Cities are expanding and using up more and more of the desert. Our aim is to reverse this trend and to protect our open spaces.· The court of appeal reversed the original verdict and set the prisoner free.· Many of the former administration's policies were reversed by the new president.
to change a previous official decision or order so that it is the opposite of what it was before or so that it can no longer have its original effect: · The execution ended a 14-year battle to have Bannister's death sentence overturned.· Wolf was found guilty of treason, but the conviction was overturned by Germany's highest court in 1995.
to make someone stop liking a person, thing, or activity informal to stop someone from liking or being interested in someone or something: · Don't let her put you off, it's a really good movie.· When you know an artist used to abuse his wife and children it does tend to put you off his work.· That weekend put me off camping for the rest of my life!· When she told me she worked in an abattoir it rather put me off her.
to deliberately change someone's feelings, so that they stop liking someone that they used to like: · My ex-wife is trying to turn the children against me.· Brenda even tried to turn my sister against me.
to make something empty to make something empty by removing what was in it: · The garbage cans are emptied once a week.empty your pockets: · The police made us stand against the wall and told us to empty our pockets.empty your glass (=drink everything that is in it): · "See you," he called, emptying his glass and making for the door.
to remove all the liquid from a large container or a machine: · The police even drained the lake in their search for the body.drain off something/drain something off: · To remove algae from your aquarium, drain off the water and wash the tank thoroughly.
to empty a room, cupboard, house etc, especially because you no longer want the things that are in it: clear out something: · I found a pile of her old letters while I was clearing out my desk.clear something out: · We have to clear the garage out this weekend.
British to empty a cupboard, a drawer, pockets etc, especially when you are looking for something: turn out something/turn something out: · The headteacher told them to turn out their pockets.· The thieves had turned out the drawer, scattering the contents on the floor.
to not let someone enter to prevent someone from entering a place, for example by locking doors and windows, or building fences: keep out somebody: · He bought a new security system to keep out intruders.keep somebody out: · Family members can go in to visit him, but we need to keep everyone else out.keep somebody out of something: · Try to keep Ed out of the bedroom while I finish wrapping his present.
to shut a door, window etc in order to prevent someone from entering, especially because they would be interrupting you or annoying you: shut out somebody: · He slammed the door, shutting out the dogs.shut somebody out (of something): · John shut everybody out of the kitchen so that he could prepare his grand surprise.
to stop someone from entering a place by locking a door: lock somebody out/lock out somebody: · Her husband threw her out of the trailer without shoes or clothes and locked her out.lock somebody out of something: · I can't believe I locked myself out of the house again.
to refuse to allow someone to enter a country or a public place: refuse somebody entry: · Immigration officials refused her entry because they thought she was planning to stay.refuse entry to somebody: · The management reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone who is improperly dressed.
to refuse to let someone into a place where a public event is happening, especially because it is full: turn somebody away/turn away somebody: · Hundreds of disappointed fans were turned away at the gates.· The club's so popular, we have to turn people away every night.
to officially forbid someone from entering a building or area, especially because they have caused trouble or because it is dangerous for them to go there: · The tavern banned Ted for starting a fight.bar/ban somebody from something: · We've had to bar visitors from the garden because some of the pathways aren't safe.bar/ban somebody for life (=forbidden from entering for the rest of your life): · After the incident at the country club, Chuck was banned for life.
to make someone feel sexually excited · She excites me in a way that no other woman can.get somebody excited (=make them excited) · Some of those Internet chat rooms can get you pretty excited.
informal to make someone feel sexually excited: · It's difficult telling your partner what actually turns you on.· Men with long hair really turn me on.
if pictures, stories etc in newspapers and books titillate people, they are deliberately intended to make people feel slightly sexually excited: · Details of the sex scandal are being revealed just to titillate the public, not inform them.
to find something new and important to find something important that no one knew about before, especially information or a way of doing something: · Medical researchers are determined to find a cure for cancer.· It's crucial that we find cleaner ways of generating electricity.· Bodies up to 2,000 years old have been found buried in the peat bogs of central England.
to find an object, a substance, a place, information etc, that is important and that no one knew about before: · The planet Pluto was discovered in 1930.· Australian researchers have discovered a substance in coffee that acts like morphine.
to find something important, interesting, or surprising that no one knew about before: · Hawking made many discoveries about the nature of stars.· Carlo Rubbia, who led the team of scientists that made the discovery, received the Nobel prize in 1984.· Amazing discoveries have been made by anthropologists excavating in the Rift Valley.· An important discovery was made by Mendel in the mid-nineteenth century.
to find something that was hidden or kept secret for a long time, especially information: · Investigators have unearthed new evidence about the possible cause of the crash.· The incredible story was unearthed by reporters at the "Post".· His research unearthed new information about the origins of the HIV virus.
to find something interesting or useful, especially information, while you are searching carefully: · After seven months on the case, the police failed to turn up any real clues.· A thorough examination of the company's account books turned up several interesting facts.
to find someone or something that is lost to find someone or something that you have lost: · I've looked everywhere, but I can't find my sunglasses.· Have you found your passport yet?· The murder weapon was found outside the house.· Luis was gone, and she had no way of ever finding him again.
if something that is lost turns up , someone finds it later in a place where they did not expect it to be: · Don't worry about your earrings - I'm sure they'll turn up sooner or later.· Have those files turned up yet?
to find someone or something by a careful process of asking a lot of people for information: · Police are trying to trace a red van, which several witnesses reported seeing near the scene of the crime.· The cash was eventually traced to a prominent Paris lawyer.· Philips hired a private detective to trace his daughter, who had been missing for two months.
to find someone or something that is difficult to find, by searching or by making inquiries in several different places: track down somebody/something: · The police have had a difficult time tracking down Corbin.· I have copies of the documents but haven't managed to track down the originals.· The president vowed to track down those responsible for the bombing.track somebody/something down: · It took Alvin quite a while to track her down, but he eventually found her.
to fold something to bend a piece of paper or cloth, so that one part of it covers another: · He folded his newspaper and handed it to me.· Before getting into bed, I usually fold my clothes and put them on the chair.fold something in two/in half (=across the middle): · Tom folded the letter in half and stuck it in his pocket.fold something into a square/triangle etc (=so that it has the shape of a square or triangle): · The napkins were folded into neat triangles.
to fold something, usually several times, in order to make it into a smaller or neater shape: fold up something: · Rachel folded up the ironing board and put it in the closet.fold something up: · Don't just leave your clothes on the floor like that - fold them up.
: turn down a sheet/blanket/collar etc fold it back so that the top or corner of it is pressed down: turn down something: · I turned down a corner of the page I was reading and shut the book.· The maid always turns down the bedclothes and places a mint on the pillow.turn something/it/them down: · Button up your jacket and turn the collar down.
to give something to someone in authority to give something to someone in authority, for example to the police or a teacher: hand/give in something: · When you leave the hotel, please hand in your key at the desk.· Luckily, someone gave in her purse at the lost property office.hand/give something in: · Have you given your English assignment in yet?
to give something such as weapons or important documents to the police or to government officials, when you should not legally have them or you have been officially asked to give them: turn something in/over: · Police are encouraging people to turn illegal weapons in at their local police station.turn in/over something to somebody: · The government is refusing to turn over the documents to the UN inspection team.
to give something to someone because they have asked or forced you to: hand over something: · The robbers forced them to hand over the money.· "Give us a bit of your rum," he said. Virginia handed over the bottle. hand something over: · If you don't hand it over I'll shoot!
to give a prisoner to another group of people, especially the police or the people in authority in another country: hand/turn somebody over to somebody: · The terrorists were taken to the airport, where they were handed over to the French authorities.hand/turn over somebody: · The kidnappers promised to go to the embassy and turn over all their hostages within 24 hours.
to give information or documents to another person: · Officials admitted that they failed to pass on important information.pass on something to somebody: · It was discovered that he had been passing secrets on to the Russians whilst working at the Pentagon.pass something on to somebody: · He was accused of stealing secret documents and passing them on to the enemy.
formal to give your power or possessions to someone else because you have been forced to or have agreed to: · The President has indicated that he intends to surrender power on February 7th.surrender something to somebody: · They promised to abide by the peace agreement and surrender all their weapons to the occupying forces.
to let someone else have your possessions or rights by officially signing a legal document: · With a stroke of the pen he signed away his claim to the family estate.· Her husband has tricked her into signing away her rights to the property.sign something away: · "I have no intention whatsoever of signing my inheritance away," she informed him coldly.
to let someone else have your position, power or rights, especially unwillingly: · The Prince was persuaded to relinquish his claim to the throne.· The United States is pressing the rebel army to relinquish power.
to happen · The accident happened at two o'clock this afternoon.· What's happened? Why are you crying?· The strangest thing happened when I was in Singapore.· Before I realised what was happening, the man had grabbed my bag and run off with it.anything can/could/might happen (=used to say that it is uncertain what will happen) · You mustn't go there alone at night. Anything might happen!
to happen - use this about events, performances, ceremonies and other things that have been planned to happen: · The wedding will take place at St Andrew's church.· Police are trying to prevent the demonstration from taking place.
if there is an event, accident, change etc, it happens: · There's a concert at the school next Saturday.· There has been a major accident on the Santa Monica Freeway.· I'll let you know if there's any change in our plans.
if a planned event is at a particular time or place, it happens or is arranged to happen at that time or place: · Dinner is at eight, so come at about half past seven.· Christmas will be on a Saturday next year.· Last year's degree ceremony was in the main university building.
formal to happen - use this especially about things that have not been planned or that people do not expect: · Major earthquakes like this occur very rarely.· The court will have to decide exactly what occurred on the night Mellor died.
to happen, especially as a result of earlier events or decisions: · Our problems came about because we ignored the advice of experts.· A number of educational reforms have come about as a result of the report.come about through: · The decrease in the number of salmon has come about through commercial overfishing.how did it come about that: · How did it come about that she married an awful man like that?
informal if something such as a problem crops up , it happens suddenly and unexpectedly: · A couple of problems cropped up while you were away.· If anything crops up, give me a call.· You have to learn to deal with difficult situations when they crop up.
if something, especially a problem or a chance to do something comes up , it happens unexpectedly: · He rang to say he would be late home -- something had come up at the office.· There are job vacancies from time to time. I'll let you know if anything comes up.· When the opportunity to go to the States came up, Dora took it at once.
if a planned event is coming up , it will happen soon: · Don't forget you've got exams coming up in a couple of weeks' time.· Our 12th annual Folk Festival is coming up again soon.
if something such as a job or a chance to do something turns up , it happens or becomes available, especially through good luck: · Ben's been looking for a job for two months, but nothing good's turned up.· I'd almost given up hope of finding a house I liked, and then suddenly this one turned up.
formal if a problem or difficult situation arises , it happens and comes to your attention: · It would be best to deal with these issues at once, before a crisis arises.arise over: · Several problems have arisen recently over questions of pay.arise from (=as a result of something): · The conflict arose from tensions between the different ethnic groups.
if something unpleasant strikes , it suddenly happens: · It is always devastating when this illness strikes.· Most people were fast asleep when the hurricane struck at 4.05 pm.
to happen with a good or bad result to happen so that the final result is good, bad, unexpected etc: · We were worried when only twenty people came to the party but it turned out very well.· How did things turn out in the end?turn out to be something: · I was a bit doubtful at first, but it turned out to be a really good idea.not turn out as planned/expected: · We wanted the baby to be born at home, but it didn't quite turn out as planned.as it turned out (=used to say that this is what happened in the end): · As it turned out, James was delayed and didn't arrive until three.
informal to happen with a particular result, especially a successful or unsuccessful one: · Some election campaigns work out better than others.· We had a few problems when Jake first gave up work, but things are panning out very well now.· I'm not sure if we'll decide to get married or not - we'll wait and see how things work out.
: go well/badly/smoothly etc if something such as an arranged event or someone's work goes well, badly etc, it happens in a way that is successful, unsuccessful etc: · Did the party go well?· Things went badly for the company last year. Their profits are down by 50%.· How's the job going these days?
: go off well/successfully/smoothly etc if an arranged event goes off well, successfully etc, it happens and is completed without any problems: · Thanks to the helpful staff at the hotel, the conference went off very well.· I'm sure that everything will go off smoothly on the day.go off without a hitch (=happen without any problems): · Everyone was relieved when the ceremony at the Ambassador's residence went off without a hitch.
to seem very unpleasant to someone · His habit of sniffing loudly really disgusted her.· The heat, the noise, the smell of the other passengers; everything about the subway disgusted him.· "Get out," she said. "You disgust me!"
if something revolts you, you think it is extremely unpleasant: · I opened the door and was instantly revolted by the smell.· He kissed her full on the lips in a way that revolted her.
if something turns your stomach it makes you feel ill because it is so unpleasant or shocking: · The sight of the dead body turned his stomach.· The strike has meant piles of rotting garbage in the streets. "It's enough to turn your stomach," said one resident.
if something such as violence or suffering sickens you, it makes you feel ill and you wish you could stop it: · The smell of the blood sickened her and she ran out of the room.· "Some of the recent attacks on horses in this area are enough to sicken anyone," a police spokesman said.
to ignore something bad, even though you know it is wrong to ignore something wrong that someone has done, especially because it is unimportant: · I'll overlook your mistake this time.· Mrs Johnson tends to overlook any small faults the girls may have.· Although this is a first offence it cannot be overlooked.
to decide not to punish or criticize someone for doing something wrong, although you might do so if they do it again: · I think they've broken the rules, but I'll let it pass.· Howard had insulted her, but she thought it better to let it pass this time.
if someone in authority turns a blind eye to illegal activity or bad behaviour, they ignore it and pretend they do not know about it: · If my sister did something wrong my mother always turned a blind eye.· The guards turned a blind eye when the prisoners stole food from the kitchen.turn a blind eye to: · The President could no longer turn a blind eye to the indiscretions of his Chief of Staff.
to ignore something and pretend it does not exist because it is unpleasant or difficult to deal with: · The officials in charge of the Chernobyl power station had shut their eyes to the danger.· Of course, it is tempting to criticize other countries and close your eyes to all the problems of your own society.
to ignore an unpleasant situation and hope it will stop if you try not to think about it: · You'll never solve your problems if you just bury your head in the sand -- you have to face them.
to turn or push a button to increase something: turn up the radio/television/heat etc to increase the amount of sound coming out of a radio, television etc or the amount of heat coming from a heater, by turning or pushing a button: turn something up: · Hey, turn this up for a second, I like this song.· Would you mind turning the heat up?turn up something: · We hooked up my stereo and turned up the volume as loud as it would go.· Is the sound turned up too loud for you?
to stop looking at someone or something to turn your eyes away from something that you were looking at: · The accident scene was so horrible that I had to look away.· The minute he looked away, I crumpled the piece of paper and shoved it in my coat pocket.look away from: · She looked away from him, unable to tell him the truth
to stop looking at something and turn your face upwards, in order to see someone or talk to them: · There was a loud bang outside the classroom, and we all looked up.look up from: · "Goodbye, then," she said, without even looking up from her book.
also look round British to turn your eyes away from what you were looking at and start to look at what is around you: · Alan put down his newspaper and looked around, "What was that noise?"· The speaker finished her speech and looked round to see if there were any questions.
to stop looking at someone or something by turning your face in another direction, especially because you are embarrassed or upset: · He burped loudly, and she turned her face away in disgust.turn your face away from: · Turning his face away from her, Glen began to cry.
formal to deliberately turn your eyes away from what you are looking at, because you do not want to look at it any longer: · The two averted their eyes as they passed each other in the hall.· When Celia dropped her robe, Richard averted his gaze and stepped back awkwardly.
to make music, a radio, or a television louder to make music, a radio etc louder by turning a control: turn something up: · Can you turn the television up? I can't hear it.turn up something: · Someone turned up the music, and people started dancing.
to try to do things as they were done in the past to return to an earlier time in your life, so that you can experience something again or change something that you did then - use this to say that you wish you could do this: go back to: · I wish I could go back to my school days.· Wouldn't it be nice if we could go back to the days when life was slower than it is today.you can't go back: · It's no use having regrets. You can't go back!
to live part of your life again, so that you could do something in a different way, or experience something again: · If I could turn the clock back, I don't think I'd study law again.put/turn the clock back to: · It would be nice to put the clock back to the years when Mum and Dad were still alive.
to try to behave or live as you did at some time in the past, usually because you do not like your present situation or you are unhappy that things have changed: · It's no good living in the past. You have to get on with your life.· As people get older, they often tend to live in the past.
to make someone or something quieter British /quiet somebody down American to make someone quieter and calmer, when they are making a lot of noise because they are angry, excited, or upset: · I spent half the lesson trying to quieten them down.· Sue managed to quiet them both down and eventually stopped the argument.
especially written to make someone suddenly stop speaking: · I opened my mouth to speak but she silenced me with an angry look.· Partick was livid, but Jane squeezed his arm to silence him.
to make someone, especially a child, make less noise or make no noise at all, especially by telling them in a quiet voice to stop talking or crying: · I turned to Margaret but was hushed before I could open my mouth.· David hushed me. "Sh-h-h. You're not allowed to speak in here.''· She gave up trying to hush the baby and took him outside.
if something muffles a sound it makes it quieter and less clear: · The snow muffled the sound of the traffic.· He dragged her into the car, putting his hand over her mouth to muffle her screams.· John's voice was muffled by the door, and I couldn't tell what he was saying.
to make a television, radio etc quieter by moving or turning a button or control: turn something/it/them down: · Do you mind turning the radio down?· Turn that music down, you'll wake the whole street!turn down something: · She turned down the volume on the TV and picked up the phone.turn something right downBritish /turn something all the way down American (=make it as quiet as possible): · No wonder you can't hear anything -- you've turned your hearing aid right down.
informal to make someone be quiet, especially by speaking to them rudely or angrily: · Can't you shut those kids up?· The only way to shut her up is to give her something to eat.
to reduce the number, amount, price, or size of something to make something less in amount or level: · I was hoping they would reduce the price a little.greatly/significantly/dramatically reduce: · You can greatly reduce your heating bills by using low-energy heaters.dramatically/drastically reduce: · Their income has been drastically reduced.reduce something by half/10%/2 years etc: · The new road will reduce traffic through the town by 30%.· Benefits will be reduced by $50 for each child who fails to attend school.
to reduce an amount, limit, or level - use this especially in writing about business or technical subjects: · After 20 minutes, lower the temperature to 200 degrees.· The Bundesbank is under pressure to lower interest rates.
to reduce something by a lot, especially prices, time, or money: · The new system is aimed at cutting the average waiting time.cut something by half/several weeks/ten per cent etc: · Because of the recession, salaries in the advertising industry have been cut by a half.· The mortgage insurance agency has cut costs by $2000 over the last 3 years, making it easier for people to buy homes.cut something from/to something: · His annual leave has been cut from six weeks to just three.
to reduce the level of sound, heat, light etc, especially by turning a control: turn something down: · Could you turn the lights down - it's too bright in here.turn down something: · The weather wasn't as cold, so we decided to turn down the central heating.turn something down slightly/a little/a bit: · Would you mind turning the volume down a little?
to reduce something, especially by a fairly small amount or number: · Various methods are being explored in order to decrease the volume of traffic on our roads.· Better health education should help to decrease the incidence of heart disease.· Use of the new nets has significantly decreased the number of dolphins killed accidentally each year.
informal to reduce prices by a very large amount - used especially in advertisements and newspapers: · American car manufacturers have started slashing prices in an effort to stimulate sales.· Public spending has been slashed over the past two years.slash something by 10%/half/75% etc: · Come to our Summer Sale, where prices have been slashed by up to 75%.
informal to reduce the price of something by a large amount, especially in order to make it easier to sell: knock down something: · Shops are knocking down prices in an effort to increase sales.knock something down: · In the end he knocked the price down to £70.
to reduce something by half: · The overseas aid budget has been almost halved, from $18m to just over $10m.
American to reduce prices: roll back something: · Most of the big downtown stores have rolled back their prices to dispose of winter stock.roll something back: · Rather than roll prices back, the company negotiated pay increases that ranged between 10 and 15 percent.
to refuse to give someone a job, a place at college etc to formally tell someone, usually in writing, that they have not got the job or chance to study that they have asked for: · Several hundred people applied, but we had to reject nearly all of them.· Ian was rejected by the army because of his bad eyesight.· Jim was rejected by every college he applied to.
to tell someone that they cannot have the job or chance to study that they have asked for, especially when there is a particular reason for doing this: turn somebody down: · When Uncle John tried to join the army, they turned him down because he was too old.· Marion applied for a job teaching in Minneapolis, but she was turned down.turn down somebody: · We automatically turn down any candidate who makes spelling mistakes in their job application.
to not give someone the job or chance to study that they have asked for: · He applied for several jobs at the amusement park, but wasn't accepted.· Most universities will not accept anyone without an interview.
to reject an offer or suggestion to say no very firmly to an offer or suggestion. Reject is more formal than not accept and say no: · Lauren rejected her parents' offer of financial help.· She rejected the idea that she should sue him.· The Secretary of State offered his resignation, which the President promptly rejected.
to say no to an offer or invitation, especially because you think it would not be right to accept it: · She's given us all this stuff and she won't accept any money for it.· I decided not to accept their invitation.· Laney wouldn't accept what he considered an insulting pay offer.
especially spoken not accept an offer or suggestion: · I asked him if he wanted a drink, but he said no.· I'll offer to buy it from her, but I expect she'll say no.say no to: · Mrs. Hill, still mentally alert, said no to any suggestions of further operations.
to say you do not want something that you have been offered: · The offer was so good how could I refuse?· He never refuses a drink, does he?refuse to do something: · Ms. Knight refused to accept the manager's apology.flatly refuse: · He flatly refuses any offers of financial help.
to say no to an offer - use this especially when someone refuses a good offer or opportunity, and this is surprising: turn somebody/something down: · They offered her a really good job, but she turned it down.· He said he'd help her with her training, but she turned him down.turn down somebody/something: · If you turn down the opportunity to go to college, you'll always regret it.
formal to say no politely when someone invites you to do something: · Mr Casey regrets that he will have to decline your kind invitation owing to a prior engagement.· The bishop was invited to attend the opening ceremony, but he declined.decline to do something: · The Prime Minister was asked for his opinion but declined to comment.
spoken use this to tell someone that you cannot accept their invitation at the time they have suggested, but would like to do it at some time in the future: · "How about dinner tonight?" "Sorry -- I'll have to take a rain check on that."
to officially reject a request or suggestion to use your official authority to formally refuse a request or suggestion: · Judge Gifford rejected the defense's request.· The immigration authorities have rejected his application for refugee status.· It was predicted that the Senate would reject the bill by about 60 to 40.
if a parliament, a council, or other official political organization throws out a plan or suggestion, they refuse to accept it or make it legal, especially after voting on it: throw out something: · Local councillors threw out proposals for the building of a new stadium.throw something out: · The House passed the bill, but the Senate threw it out.
to refuse to accept a request or to give someone permission to do something, especially when the request is a reasonable one: turn down something: · Their application to build a new extension has been turned down by the planning authority.turn something down: · We put in a request for a little extra time for us to finish the project, but the board turned it down.
to officially decide that someone cannot have something they have asked for, or cannot do something they want to do: refuse an application/request/demand etc: · Judge Eyck refused his request for bail.· Over 2,000 applications for political asylum were refused last year.refuse somebody something: · Under the law, doctors cannot refuse patients access to their own medical records.refuse something to somebody: · The city is refusing contracts to firms that do not practice an equal opportunities policy.
to officially refuse to accept a request, suggestion, or bad situation: · Employees have repeatedly requested child care facilities, but the company has always said no.say no to: · We're hoping the government will at last say no to low wages and poverty.
to refuse to accept a plan, proposal, or new law by voting: · The majority of union members voted against further industrial action.· Homeowners voted against new bonds and higher taxes.· Only Councilwoman Shirley Lanion voted no.vote no on something: · I urge you to vote no on Measure A.
to use your position of power to refuse to allow something to happen, especially something that other people, organizations, or countries have agreed: · European plans to deregulate air fares were vetoed by Spain.· Requests to take foster children abroad are often vetoed by the biological parent.· The governor vetoed a bill that would have given some much-needed money to public libraries.
also turn thumbs down on something American informal to reject a plan or suggestion: · The commission wisely gave the golf course proposal the thumbs down.· The city council turned thumbs down on Marison's new proposal, citing potential parking problems.
to reject ideas, beliefs, or ways of living to reject ideas, beliefs, or ways of living, especially when you used to accept them in the past: · As an adult, she rejected her Catholic upbringing.· Vegetarians reject the idea that you must eat meat to get all the nutrients you need.· Feminists rejected traditional notions of the role of women in society.
to completely change your former beliefs and way of life, especially because you now think that they were wrong: · I had a sense of relief as I turned my back on the disasters of my first marriage.· Some journalists accused him of turning his back on a lot of the party's major principles.
to reject ideas, values, or behaviour because you think they are stupid, wrong, or old-fashioned: · My kids used to scorn my politics as right-wing selfishness.scorn something as something: · Many young people scorn polite behaviour as insincere.
to refuse to live the way that other people usually live in your society, for example by not working in a job or living in an ordinary house: · While kids in the affluent sixties could afford to drop out, things were very different ten years later.· A group of young people dropped out and set up a commune in the middle of the forest.
to refuse very firmly to accept or become involved in something to refuse to take part in an activity or get involved in something because you disapprove of it or think it will not work: · She said the idea was stupid and wouldn't have anything to do with it.· Most activists don't want anything to do with violent protests.
informal to refuse to accept something that someone offers you because you think it is not good enough for you: · Many older academics turn their noses up at subjects such as Media and Film studies.· He turned up his nose at a job washing dishes.
British /I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole American use this to say that you will definitely not accept something, buy something, or get involved in something: · My nephew wants me to invest in his business, but frankly I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.· Millions of people buy those cars, but I wouldn't touch one with a ten-foot pole.
to get into your bed in order to sleep · Do you want to go to bed, or watch the movie?· Mom, do I have to go to bed right now?· She had planned to go to bed early that night, but a friend stopped by to see her.go to bed at · I went to bed at nine last night, and I'm still tired.go straight to bed (=go to bed very shortly after doing something else) · Marianne took a shower and went straight to bed.
to be lying in your bed in order to go to sleep: · Sorry, were you in bed? I thought it might be too late to call you.· I'm usually in bed by 10.30 on weekdays.· You were supposed to be in bed by now!
the time when you go to bed in order to sleep: · It's late -- it must be nearly bedtime.· Lucy, 7.30 is bedtime, you know that.· This medicine should be taken at bedtime and first thing in the morning.my/your/his etc bedtime (=the time when you usually go to bed): · Isn't it your bedtime?past (your/his etc) bedtime (=after the time when you normally go to bed): · It's past my bedtime -- I really must get some sleep.
informal to go to bed after you have been doing something such as talking with other people or working for a long time: · Come on you guys, it's time to turn in.· I'm going to have to turn in. I'm not used to these late nights.
also hit the hay informal to go to bed when it is very late or you are very tired: · Usually I come home, eat dinner, watch a little TV, and then hit the sack by 9:30 or 10:00.· I'm bushed. I think I'll hit the hay.
formal or written to go to bed: · The captain retired at ten o'clock with a glass of whisky.retire to bed: · Mary Ellen always had to set the fire for the next morning before retiring to bed.
to sleep badly or be unable to sleep to wake up often during the night, and not feel rested or comfortable: · I'm sorry, I didn't sleep very well last night and it's put me in a bad mood.· They slept badly on the hard bamboo floor.
to be unable to go to sleep especially because of noise, worries, pain etc: · If you can't get to sleep, don't get up or have a meal or snack; relax and read quietly instead.· I just couldn't get to sleep, what with all the traffic and people in the street.
to sleep badly and only for short periods, especially because of noise, worries, pain etc: · The people next door are having a party, so we probably won't get much sleep tonight.· She cried all last night and I didn't get much sleep either.
to be someone who is easily woken when there is any movement or noise: · I'm a light sleeper - so I woke up as soon as I heard him come in.· I just hope your dad isn't a light sleeper.
informal to not sleep at all during the night, especially because you are worried, angry, upset etc: · I was so worried, I didn't sleep a wink last night.hardly/barely sleep a wink: · He had hardly slept a wink all night, beside himself with jealousy and anger.
to be in bed unable to sleep, especially because you are worried or excited about something: · I used to lie awake at night wondering what had happened to her.· I lay awake the whole night after I read the letter, thinking about what it could mean.· We'd lie awake, listening to our parents arguing in the room below.
to keep changing your position in bed because you are unable to sleep and do not feel comfortable: · She had slept badly, tossing and turning before falling into a fitful doze.· Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, or do you toss and turn for hours before dropping off?
a night when you cannot sleep at all: · After a sleepless night, she looked almost as pale and exhausted as Elinor.give somebody a sleepless night (=make someone worry so much that they cannot sleep): · He's given us a few sleepless nights over the years, but we love him.spend a sleepless night: · Tom had spent a sleepless night on the sofa.
a night during which you sleep badly, keep changing your position in bed, and wake up often: · Another restless night followed, but she determinedly settled down to work again the next morning.· I'd had quite a restless night, and breakfast didn't look appetizing.
the inability to sleep at night: · Working outdoors all day certainly did wonders for my insomnia.· a cure for insomniasuffer from insomnia: · He suffered from insomnia and was taking sleeping pills each night.chronic insomnia (=when this happens to you a lot over a long period of time): · My mother was alarmed by my fits of weeping and chronic insomnia.
an inability to sleep that continues for several nights or more: · His eyes were still red-rimmed from tears and sleeplessness.· Sleeplessness and loss of appetite are common signs of stress.
to start doing something regularly to start doing something that you then do regularly. Begin is more formal than start and is used especially in written English: start/begin doing something: · I started going to the gym two years ago.· She was only 16 when she began seeing Alan.start/begin to do something: · His parents got divorced last year - that's when he started to take drugs.
to become interested in a sport or activity, and start to spend time doing it: · When did Bryan take up golf?· Your pictures are so good - you could take up painting as a profession.
to start doing something dangerous or illegal: · Hal turned to drinking after his wife and kids were killed in a car crash.· Research shows that young people without jobs are most likely to turn to crime.
to start doing something frequently, especially something that is annoying or worrying : · There's a big ginger cat that's taken to coming in our house at night.· My daughter took to spending hours alone in her room, only coming downstairs for meals.
to start to do something so often that it becomes a habit: · I only used to have one or two cigarettes, but then I got into the habit of it.get into the habit of of doing something: · Try to get into the habit of planning your work at the beginning of the day.
to switch something off to make something stop working, for example by pressing a button - use this about things that use electricity, for example, lights, televisions, or computers: switch off something: · Always switch off your computer when you've finished.switch something off: · It's OK - I switched the TV off before I went out.
to make something stop working, for example by pressing a button or turning a tap - use this about things that use electricity, gas, or water: turn off something: · Would you turn off the heater before you go to bed?turn something off: · You forgot to turn the oven off!
to make an engine or a machine stop working: · George stopped the engine and got out of the car.· We had to stop the pump and unblock it.
to press a button that makes a machine stop: · If you want it to stop, just press the red button.
to switch a light off: put out something: · Norma put out the light and went to sleep.put something out: · Could you put the lamp out in the bedroom, please?
to make a light stop working by pressing a button: · Don't forget to turn out the lights when you go to bed, okay Annie?
if you shut off or shut down a machine, you make it stop operating: · The computer automatically shuts off the pump when no water is flowing.· The Department of Energy shut down the reactor because of safety considerations.
to remove the thing that connects a piece of electrical equipment to the main electricity supply, so that it is no longer connected to it: · Did you remember to unplug the kettle?· I was getting a lot of crank calls, so I started unplugging my phone at night.
formal to separate a piece of equipment from the main electricity or gas supply so that it is no longer connected to it: · Once a car has started, the engine would continue to run even if you disconnected the battery.
to switch something on to make something start working, for example by pressing a button - use this about things that use electricity, for example lights, televisions, or computers: switch on something: · Will you switch on the television?· I switched on the radio to listen to the news.switch something on: · Do you mind if I switch the light on?· Exhaust fumes come into the car when I switch on the air conditioner.
to make something start working, for example by turning a tap or pressing a button - use this about things that use electricity, gas, or water: turn on something: · He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.· Use timers to turn on indoor lights while you are away.turn something on: · Do you want me to turn the lights on?
to make a light, radio etc start working: put the light/radio/TV/kettle etc on: · Eva put the kettle on to make a cup of coffee.· Put the light on, then we can see what we're doing.· It was so cold I put the heating back on.
also start up to make a car, engine, machine etc start working: · She started the car and backed slowly out of the garage.· Clean or replace the air filter before attempting to start the engine.
: get a car/engine/machine etc started/going to succeed in making a car etc start after having some difficulty: · I couldn't get my car started this morning.· He rebuilt the engine and finally got it going.· It took the repairman an hour to get the washing machine going again.
to do something to make a piece of equipment that warns you about something start: set off something: · Someone accidentally set off the fire alarm.· Smoke alarms can be set off by smoke from cigarettes, cooking, and fireplaces.set something off: · The alarm is so sensitive that the slightest movement will set it off.
to make a system start operating - use this especially in technical contexts: · The bomb's firing mechanism is activated by a time-clock.· The smoke activated the sprinkler system.
to make a clock, toy, or other machine that does not have a power supply start moving: · Mr Carey wound up the old clock and gently set the pendulum going.· She pulled the lever that set the pump going and waited for the water.
to press a button which makes a machine start: · What happens when you press this button?· Somebody pushed the alarm button.
to pull a large control that switches on the electricity supply to something: · The Speaker of the House threw the switch for the Christmas tree lights in front of the Capitol building.
to think about something a lot · I've given this a lot of thought, because we all know that health care issues are very important today.give a lot of thought to something · Tony has given a lot of thought to what made his father a legendary coach.· Many of the new West-Coast designers have obviously given a lot of thought to their furniture designs.
to be thinking about something all the time, especially because you are worried about it: · She has something on her mind, but she won't tell us what it is.· "Should we tell Dad?" "No, he's got a lot on his mind right now."be on somebody's mind: · Come on, tell me what's on your mind.· I'm not looking forward to the interview. It's been on my mind all week.
also can't get somebody/something out of my mind informal to be unable to stop thinking about someone or something, even when you do not want to think about them: · After the first three months of the pregnancy were over, I just couldn't stop thinking about food.· I just can't get that poor family out of my mind.
to spend too much time thinking about something sad or unpleasant - use this especially when telling someone not to do this: · Brian's still dwelling too much on the past, in my opinion.· There's no use in dwelling on problems that we can't do anything about.
to keep thinking for a long time about something that worries you or that makes you angry or upset: · Austin sat in the corner brooding and looking sorry for himself.brood on/over/about: · You can't spend all your time at home brooding about the way he treated you.· The poetry spends a lot of time brooding over death.
to spend all your time thinking about something that concerns you, for example your work, so that you have no time to think about other things or other people: · These days she's so wrapped up in her children she never sees anybody.· Sometimes the professors are so wrapped up in their graduate students, they ignore the undergraduates.
to be thinking all the time about something that is worrying you or that is important to you, so that it is difficult to think about anything else: · What is being done to end the crisis which has preoccupied the country's political leadership?be preoccupied with: · My mother was preoccupied with my brother and his illness, so I was allowed to do what I wanted.
spoken to be always thinking about a particular thing - use this when you want to say that someone thinks about something far too much: · It's unbelievable - you have sex on the brain 24 hours a day!
to think about something carefully and repeatedly, especially something you do not fully understand or that you have not made a final decision about: · When Dan left, Mae stayed there, turning his invitation over in her mind.· As he studied the picture of the little boy, he began to turn an idea over in his mind.
when relationships are unfriendly · She used to get on well with her neighbours but now things aren't very friendly.· Unfriendly relations between the two countries nearly led to war.on unfriendly terms/not on friendly terms (=with an unfriendly relationship) · They've been on unfriendly terms ever since their argument.
less friendly than usual, so that people do not smile at each other, talk to each other in a friendly way etc: · The cool relationship between the two men affected the entire team.· When Bill finally arrived, nearly an hour late, he got a rather cool reception.
a situation or relationship that is strained is not friendly or relaxed, because people feel worried or do not trust each other: · The meeting took place in a strained atmosphere.· Our relationship became very strained because I had refused to lend him money.
very unfriendly, especially following an argument or because someone feels offended: · After their quarrel, things between Maria and her father were rather frosty.
if a relationship turns sour , the people involved in it start to dislike each other and to behave in an unfriendly way towards each other: · After five years their marriage turned sour and ended in divorce.· When the company began to lose money, things turned sour between the directors.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Brigitte glared at him, turned on her heel (=turned away suddenly because of anger), and stomped out of the room. Could you turn your chairs to face this way? I watched until he turned the corner. Turning the car around, we headed home. The road turns sharply at the top of the hill. She gently turned the handle of the bedroom door. Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink. Many investors have turned their attention to opportunities abroad. Phil turned his gaze towards the older man. My son’s just turned 18. It’s just turned three. There are some criminals who cannot be turned loose onto the streets. The victory turned the tide of the war in North Africa. We’ve promised to help, and there’s no turning back (=you cannot change this)! Josie’s already turned him down (=refused his offer of marriage). Mark turned off the highway and into Provincetown. ‘I’m thirsty,’ she said, turning on the tap. It was a difficult time, but eventually things turned out all right. As it turned out (=used to say what happened in the end), he passed the exam quite easily. I’m turning the project over to you. addicts who turn to crime to finance their habit Steve turned up late, as usual.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Don’t worry, it’ll turn out all right. All her hopes and dreams had turned to ashes. Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). The president’s fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve). The children were doing cartwheels in the park. After a while, the conversation turned to a friend’s coming wedding. The boy blushed crimson. I got a shock when he just turned up on the doorstep. She was a tall thin woman who had gone grey early. I always turn my jeans inside out to wash them. He thought the door was locked, but he turned the knob and the door opened. events which took place at the turn of the last millennium The boiled vegetables had turned to mush. The weather turned nasty towards the evening. He suddenly went pale. What if the car you buy turns out to be a pig in a poke? Iago’s lie is the pivot on which the play turns. Most young talented players are determined to turn pro. His face turned purple with rage. Every time you mention his name, she goes bright red. Eileen blushed scarlet at the joke. Lana turned a somersault in midair. As time went by, their marriage turned sour. A new report has turned the spotlight on the problem of poverty in the inner cities. a politician who turned traitor (=became a traitor) to the government He made a quick U-turn and sped away. Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending. Can you turn the volume up?
Brigitte glared at him, turned on her heel (=turned away suddenly because of anger), and stomped out of the room. Could you turn your chairs to face this way? (=move a page in a book over so that you can read the next page)
I watched until he turned the corner. Turning the car around, we headed home. The road turns sharply at the top of the hill. She gently turned the handle of the bedroom door. Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink. also it turns cold/nasty etc Then it turned cold and started to rain.
Then it turned cold and started to rain. (=suddenly become angry, violent etc) The police are worried that the situation could turn violent.
The police are worried that the situation could turn violent. Many investors have turned their attention to opportunities abroad. Phil turned his gaze towards the older man. My son’s just turned 18. It’s just turned three. There are some criminals who cannot be turned loose onto the streets. The victory turned the tide of the war in North Africa. We’ve promised to help, and there’s no turning back (=you cannot change this)! Josie’s already turned him down (=refused his offer of marriage). Mark turned off the highway and into Provincetown. ‘I’m thirsty,’ she said, turning on the tap. It was a difficult time, but eventually things turned out all right. As it turned out (=used to say what happened in the end), he passed the exam quite easily. I’m turning the project over to you. addicts who turn to crime to finance their habit Steve turned up late, as usual.· People often go to him for advice about their problems.
· I entered the shop and switched off the alarm.
Don’t worry, it’ll turn out all right. (=not give permission for a decision to be changed)· The taxpayer's appeal was dismissed and the penalty upheld.
(=say no to an application)· Their planning application was rejected because of a lack of parking facilities.
All her hopes and dreams had turned to ashes. (=ask them to help)· The elderly sometimes have no one to turn to for assistance.
· She quickly put away the shopping and then turned her attention to preparing dinner.
Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). The president’s fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve). The children were doing cartwheels in the park. (=the time when one century ends and another begins)· The town was expanding at the turn of the century.
(=not accept or use an opportunity)· Imagine throwing up a chance to go to America!
(=use your charm to get something)· If you turn on the charm, I’m sure you’ll get the job.
(=become cold, especially suddenly)· The birds fly south before the weather turns cold.
After a while, the conversation turned to a friend’s coming wedding. (=go around a corner)· I walked on and turned the corner into Church Road.
(=start committing crimes)· Youngsters who are bored sometimes turn to crime.
The boy blushed crimson. I got a shock when he just turned up on the doorstep.· I fastened my seat belt and turned on the engine.
· Maggie pulled over and switched off the engine.
· Take the next exit, junction 15.
(=becomes red)· His face went red with embarrassment.
(=becomes pale)· I saw her face go pale when he walked in.
She was a tall thin woman who had gone grey early.· John turned his head to look at the boy.
· Why don't you put the heating on if you're cold?
· We turn the heating off before bed.
· Can you turn the heating down a bit?
I always turn my jeans inside out to wash them. (also decline an invitation formal)· She turned down an invitation to take part in a televised debate.
· He climbed into his car and turned the key.
· We heard the key turn in the lock.
He thought the door was locked, but he turned the knob and the door opened.· Dorothy switched on the desk lamp.
· He switched off the lamp beside the bed.
(=become red, brown etc)· The maple leaves had turned a fiery red.
(=let something go free) Don’t let your dog loose on the beach.
Don’t let your dog loose on the beach.· Turn the machine on and slowly add the hot liquid.
· Is the tape machine switched off?
events which took place at the turn of the last millennium (=leave the motorway)· We forgot to turn off the motorway and ended up in London.
The boiled vegetables had turned to mush. especially British English (=suddenly start behaving in a threatening way) When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists.
When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists. The weather turned nasty towards the evening.· Their honeymoon turned into a nightmare when they were involved in a car accident.
(=one that curves up at the end)· She had big eyes and a turned-up nose.
(=say no to it)· She declined the offer of a lift.
· I turned the page in order to find out what happened next.
· Turn to page 8 for more details.
He suddenly went pale. (=give a performance)· Both actors turn in great performances.· In the role of Carmen, Ms Leblanc delivered a quite exquisite performance.
(=skilfully invented or chosen)· She creates lifelike characters with a few well-turned phrases.
What if the car you buy turns out to be a pig in a poke? Iago’s lie is the pivot on which the play turns. (=take everything out of your pockets in order to find something)· His mother made him turn out his pockets.
(=be or happen at a particular time in the development of something)· The day of the accident marked a turning point in Kenny’s life.
(=the time when an important change starts, especially an improvement)· A turning point in the history of the republic came in 1358.
Most young talented players are determined to turn pro. (=make a profit)· Without the liquor sales, the store could not turn a profit.
His face turned purple with rage.· Dad switched on the radio for the eight-thirty news.
· You can turn the radio off, darling, we're not listening to it.
(=make it quieter or louder)· Can you turn your radio down a bit?
Every time you mention his name, she goes bright red.· Initially, his resignation was rejected.· He offered his resignation but it was turned down by the prime minister.
Eileen blushed scarlet at the joke. Lana turned a somersault in midair. (=become sour)
As time went by, their marriage turned sour. A new report has turned the spotlight on the problem of poverty in the inner cities.· Run some cold water into the bath before turning on the hot tap.
· I forgot to turn the tap off.
· I switched off the television and went to bed.
(=make it louder or quieter)· Rory had turned the television up so loud that the people next door complained.
(=used to say what happened or was discovered in the end)· Obviously, there had to be some mistake. As things turned out, there was.
(=they start thinking about something)· As summer approaches, people’s thoughts turn to holidays.
(=starts coming in or going out)· Soon, the tide would turn and the waves would begin to creep inshore again.
a politician who turned traitor (=became a traitor) to the government (=to have sex with someone for money)
He made a quick U-turn and sped away. Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending. Can you turn the volume up? (=turn a tap to stop water coming out of pipes or to let it come out)· Turn the water off while you're brushing your teeth.
(=changes)· The weather had turned mild.
· The wheels went slowly around.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· With a mental sigh that dimmed her meanings, she turned her attention to what she should have been doing all along.· Somewhat relieved, I turned my attention away.· So it will be some time before he can turn his full attention to his hobby-horse Britain's motorway service station crisis.· He was dead, and she drew the sheet over his face before turning her attention to the next.· Once the school began functioning smoothly, Friedman turned his attention to the blacker side of the organization: interception and solution.· She now turns her attention to the women's world outdoor championships, which will held in Ayr in June.· Talisman then turned his attention to Congress.
· This great divide can not be bridged by turning the clock back.· Only if somebody can come up with a way to turn back the clock.· No-one can turn back the clock.· The most important thing now is not to turn the clock back.· Tonight, in a special report, we turn back the clock to 1963.· It is time to stop trying to turn back the clock.· What is past is past and you can not turn the clock back.· Can we turn back the clock and revive the system of predetermined roles?
· Woolley turned a corner and saw Colonel Hawthorn instructing Corporal Hemsley in the about-turn.· The piglet made short little satisfied grunts and turned ever sharper corners.· Once he had turned the corner, he took the coat off and slipped it over his arm.· And when they turned the next corner they saw that it had indeed been the tax office.· As she turned the corner, her lips curved.· He faced Main Street, where a black hearse turned the corner.· Readers became familiar with their Doppelgangers, as if they had turned a corner and unexpectedly confronted themselves in a mirror.· We had an earlier start than I expected and now we are taking more time to turn the corner.
· They no longer supply pretexts for local bullies to oppress, nor reason for western governments to turn a blind eye.· Briefly, a vertical tube turned a blank glass eye on him and Ezra and the glass eye contemplated each other.· The pixies clustered around the walls of the barrow turned their eyes to their Kelda.· He did not turn a blind eye to corruption or greed.· Directors know this is going on and turn a blind eye.· Eventually I turned my eyes away and gave my body to them.· Honouring some one does not mean turning a blind eye to weakness.· Varney turned his eyes on the boy.
· Mrs Simpson turned her face and looked out of the window.· We turned our faces glum to reaffirm the forced nature of this trip.· She turned and pressed her face against his chest.· I turn my face towards the wall.· What has turned its face that grey colour?· Clarisa turned and slapped her face.· Just turn your face a little to the right.
· She turned her head, responding to his grin with a smile.· One of the court officers guffawed but turned his head before Kovitsky could spot him.· Open-mouthed, Leith turned her head to stare at him.· When he was at Miami, he turned some heads by proclaiming himself the best receiver in college football.· A noise somewhere near the front of the church made Fenn turn his head.· Ezra turned his head slowly to meet them.
· Suddenly, the boar had been faced with a cliff too steep to climb and had turned on its heel.· The throng turned on their heels and stampeded into town.· She turned on her heel and vanished into the murk.· Cooper turned on his heels and walked away.· Then she turned on her heel and we marched back down the hall.· He turned on his heel and went into the dining room.· Then she was turning on her heel and heading for the door, anxious to make a speedy escape.
· The sky was turning rosy and the lights on the pier were coming on, one by one.· I turn on the other light on my side of the carriage.· It was dark, but he had not turned on the light.· Would you mind turning the light out, Robert?· Mrs Vanya turned on a weak light, and motioned for me to sit.· You'd turn the lights on and all the light would drop backwards out of the room.· After an hour, though still wide awake, I crimped the page and turned off the light.
· She'd turned down the offers of promotion because of Emily.· She seemed relieved when he turned down her offer to come live with them.· Not deterred the offer price was raised and raised again, until the family could no longer turn down this fabulous offer.· Was it possible that he had actually wanted her to turn his offer down?· Yet there are times when bureaucracies have turned down offers of money.· The birthday princess was serenaded by Phil the year she turned down the offer of a party from Charles.· After careful consideration, Jay turned down the offer.
· For full details, turn to centre pages.· She leans over his shoulder to follow the music; her hand brushes his arm when she turns a page.· They turned their pages in perfect harmony and experienced a decent run through of a difficult text rather than an intense spiritual journey.· Ezra turned the page and scanned the chapter titles down.· A tomato juice by my side, I began slowly to turn the pages of the paper.· They turn quickly to the page she wants.· He turned the pages of an old magazine that was filthy with a skin of grease that came off on his fingers.· He turned the pages of the Tribune.
· Richard could be turning his nightmares to profits, but his dad thinks they may have thrown away a fortune already.· As a result, they turn a profit quicker, Johannesen said.· But private operators can turn profits only if prices rise radically and rapidly.· And the 1984 Olympics turned a profit of $ 225 million.· A loss had been turned to a profit and teamwork has led to empowered people with a commitment to the business.· Y., said the industry turned a slim profit last year after losses of $ 150 million in 1995.· These have turned in greatly enhanced profits for the year ending December 31.· At a time when many chains are losing money, Lechters is turning a healthy profit.
· It's time to turn the tables.· Women shrieked and ran at the sight of pistols, and men turned over tables to hide.· Is this what women became if afforded the luxury of turned tables?· So much for turning the tables.· Isn't it nice to see a couple turning the tables on a double-glazing salesman?· I sat down and he turned on a table lamp.· Especially when such a rider turns the tables.· She reached over and turned on a table lamp.
· Tears rolling down her face, she turned on the taps.· Then her hand was in his pants, matter-of-fact, like she was turning on a tap.· I could tell that my questioning was slowly turning off the taps of their charm.· She turned on the tap and watched water swirl into the drain.· We have never had water simply by turning on a tap like most people.· I tried to turn the tap off but it still dripped.· She turned on taps that emitted nothing but a despairing sigh and she laughed.
· However, in the battle which followed it was certainly Rodrigo who helped turn the tide of events for Sancho.· If conscience can not turn the tide, perhaps it is the panic of self-interest which will finally do the job.· I can only hope I am proved wrong: things have gone too far to turn back the tide.· Breeding programs for apes are a failure, and even hard-nosed experimenters will be turning the tide.· It took the rise of the socialist movement to turn the tide.· The cumulative effect of all of these efforts would ultimately turn the tide.· They had the desperate courage that flowed from knowing that this might be their last chance to turn the tide.· Newport look for coaches to turn a falling tide.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► turn somebody on► turn somebody ↔ out► turn something ↔ out► turn something ↔ out► turn over something► turn something over► turn (something) to something► turn something ↔ up► turn something ↔ up► turn something ↔ up► an actor turned politician/a housewife turned author etc► turn something ↔ around► turn something ↔ around► every time somebody turns around► turn somebody ↔ away► turn somebody ↔ away► turn something ↔ in► turn something ↔ in► turn in something► turn somebody ↔ in► turn something ↔ in► days turned into weeks/months turned into years etc► turn something ↔ off► turn something ↔ off► turn somebody ↔ off► turn somebody ↔ off► turn something ↔ on► turn something ↔ on► turn on somebody► turn upon somebody► turn on something► turn upon somethingPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody would turn in their grave► not turn a hair► not do a hand’s turn► turn a room/building etc inside out► feel like/turn to jelly► turn King’s evidence► go/turn over something in your mind► turn up like a bad penny► turn/beat swords into ploughshares► poacher turned gamekeeper► turn Queen’s evidence► turn/beat swords into ploughshares► a turn-up for the book(s)► set the wheels in motion/set the wheels turning► the worm turns
- It's difficult telling your partner what actually turns you on.
- Men with long hair really turn me on.
- My last boyfriend always found nurses' uniforms a real turn-on.
- Wayne certainly knows how to turn on the charm when he wants something out of you.
- As it stands, few serious runners are likely to take up the challenge to turn it on.
- For example, does watching the television start when we turn it on or when we sit down and face it?
- How do you turn it on?
- If only there were a radio she would have turned it on, loudly, but, of course, no such luck.
- Many of these taboos derive from patriarchal societies taking the power of women and turning it on its head.
- Then she went back into the living room and sat in front of the television set without turning it on.
- To be honest, I've seen potential for violence, although he's always turned it on himself.
- When does the guy who turns it on get to sleep?
- Turn the pants inside out before you wash them.
- I've turned the house upside down looking for that book!
- Lukens' theories have turned the financial world upside down.
- Declaring the shirt offensive, she ordered Jeffrey to take it off or turn it inside out.
- Hayward Wiggins launched a kids' summer enrichment program nine years ago, he turned the rules inside out.
- I turned my collar inside out.
- In effect, it turns the nozzle inside out.
- Objectivism thus turns existentialism inside out.
- The ship leaped and juddered as if trying to turn to inside out.
- This brief scene, so unexpected and devastating, turns Blue inside out.
- He turned the light out as the clergyman left the room.
- I take the car up as far as it will go, then turn the lights out.
- They turned the lights out and sat in fear.
- Would you mind turning the light out, Robert?
- He looks trim and well turned out in a new dark suit.
- Mr. Russ's deputy was Mr. Windust, then probably in his late thirties - always smart and well turned out.
- Graeme did all the cooing at first but has now turned his saucepans over to his talented young apprentice, Steve Webb.
- He took her hand and turned it over to see the small, uplifted palm.
- I turned him over to find he was already dead.
- I wanted them to see that the team was all of us, to turn it over to them for safekeeping.
- Some lawmakers have even called for turning its functions over to private industry.
- The Marshal would have liked to turn this problem over to the Captain who could have applied some brains to it.
- Then he turned the program over to the five panelists who sat behind him on the stage.
- Within a few years the increased prosperity of the yard had so impressed John Shuttleworth that he turned the business over to him.
- Graeme did all the cooing at first but has now turned his saucepans over to his talented young apprentice, Steve Webb.
- He took her hand and turned it over to see the small, uplifted palm.
- I turned him over to find he was already dead.
- I wanted them to see that the team was all of us, to turn it over to them for safekeeping.
- Some lawmakers have even called for turning its functions over to private industry.
- The Marshal would have liked to turn this problem over to the Captain who could have applied some brains to it.
- Then he turned the program over to the five panelists who sat behind him on the stage.
- Within a few years the increased prosperity of the yard had so impressed John Shuttleworth that he turned the business over to him.
- Graeme did all the cooing at first but has now turned his saucepans over to his talented young apprentice, Steve Webb.
- He took her hand and turned it over to see the small, uplifted palm.
- I turned him over to find he was already dead.
- I wanted them to see that the team was all of us, to turn it over to them for safekeeping.
- Some lawmakers have even called for turning its functions over to private industry.
- The Marshal would have liked to turn this problem over to the Captain who could have applied some brains to it.
- Then he turned the program over to the five panelists who sat behind him on the stage.
- Within a few years the increased prosperity of the yard had so impressed John Shuttleworth that he turned the business over to him.
- A superior actor might have turned the corner on this film.
- Even Sandie looks as if she might have turned the corner.
- I hope we have turned the corner.
- The economy may well have turned the corner by the next election.
- He did not appear to be the type which could be persuaded to turn traitor.
- Of millions of men and women, only a handful had turned traitor.
- Perhaps, by her action, to convince him that she had not turned traitor to the King.
- The player must then decide whether to turn traitor and eliminate the partner, he added.
- Disembarking from the steamer, she'd turned her ankle.
- So it seems some young woman has finally turned Steve's head.
- Wilkins has turned some heads by claiming to be the best football player ever.
- A kiss-and-tell look behind the scenes of a sport always turns heads with book publishers.
- Her tiny waist and substantial bosom turned heads right across the bar.
- My average customer wants to be seen, wants to turn heads.
- None of the Lavenders had ever turned heads.
- She would have turned heads anywhere in a navy blue backless dress which rose just above her knee.
- The blast must have hit solidly all at once and had given them the briefest chance to turn heads only.
- And the 1984 Olympics turned a profit of $ 225 million.
- As a result, they turn a profit quicker, Johannesen said.
- Blue chip refers to firms with long track records for turning profits and paying dividends.
- But private operators can turn profits only if prices rise radically and rapidly.
- It plans to turn a profit by the end of 2002.
- Of the participating builders in the survey, 66 percent said they turned a profit in 1993.
- Q: Will Wired turn a profit next year?
- Very few firms can turn a profit by selling just once and then scurrying out of town.
- To turn a phrase in the midst of my instability.
- After a couple of months, the Sioux turned around and came back west without permission.
- Each was turned around and the wrists cuffed behind their backs.
- He turned around and saw the first Stillman shuffling off in the other direction.
- He turned around and slowed down, seeing no sign of the monsters.
- Lepine turns around and starts spraying the students in the front rows with gunfire.
- She turned around and went back to sit in the road.
- There was no way to maneuver, even to turn around and get out if we had to.
- Why turn around and do the same to one of our own?
- Frustration mounting, attention turned toward altercations away from the play.
- He knew exactly what he wanted and he had no intention of having anybody turn him away from his big ideals.
- I turn slightly away from her and count the balance of Haysoos's bills.
- I turned abruptly away from them, but I was now very low, heading for a stand of trees.
- Instead he slowed down even more and turned farther away from our course.
- Maxine says, turning her attention away from me.
- We will not let our anger turn us away from the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.
- What could have poisoned past happiness and turned its course away from our future?
- He turned his back on Shauna and walked to the window.
- He would never turn his back on a fellow veteran.
- Many immigrants turn their back on the old ways.
- He turned his back abruptly and walked away.
- He acknowledged his paternity when he could have easily turned his back on him and told him he was a servant.
- I handed him back that hundred dollars and turned my back and took him in.
- Kissinger said it was disgraceful that the United States had turned its back on one of her oldest and closest friends.
- So in the end I turned my back on it and walked away.
- Weaken, turn your back for a moment and it could be lost for good.
- Wiltshire's Social Services department has promised not to turn its back on the problem of alcoholics.
- Organizers are considering turning off the air-conditioning for the event, or using it only sporadically.
- Pulling up to a stop sign, she touches the clutch and the engine turns off.
- She turned off the water and stepped out on to the rug, dried herself, and dressed in jeans and a shirt.
- Summertime is a great time to turn off that computer and get outdoors.
- Then he stepped out of the room, turning off his box.
- There is no doubt that the ventilator may be turned off when in fact, the patient is already dead.
- With a gun held at his head he was forced to turn off all the alarms.
- The extra time was turned to good account.
- First and foremost, Borland have taken the Windows interface and used it to good advantage.
- Homeloans are one of the cheapest ways of borrowing money - find out how to use them to your advantage.
- If you would like to reassess your life and learn how to use stress to your advantage, come along.
- Parents may feel suspicious of these, or resentful, and will need help in using them to best advantage.
- Professionals need to be aware of such things and use them to good advantage.
- Ronald Reagan turned it into an art form.
- To avoid simultaneous borrowing and depositing you should monitor how accurate your forecasting is, without turning this into an art form.
- Once, despite the age requirement, my sister charms her way on to this ride while my back is turned.
- Many landlords turn a blind eye to the fact that two families are sharing apartments.
- Automakers say that in their zeal to promote airbags, regulators turned a blind eye to evidence of hazards.
- But the police turn a blind eye to the lawbreaking.
- Directors know this is going on and turn a blind eye.
- He would prefer to turn a blind eye to the problem of asylum seekers around the world.
- Rugby, whose spectators are a fairly respectable lot, turns a blind eye to fighting on the field.
- The best the authorities could do was turn a blind eye.
- The staff knew what was going on but they turned a blind eye.
- They just had to put up with it and turn a blind eye.
- It's hard to turn the other cheek when someone insults you.
- Anyway, all I can remember is something about turning the other cheek which I don't believe in.
- Maintaining our resolve for peace does not mean, however, turning the other cheek.
- No bottling up for me; no turning the other cheek for Walt.
- Peregrine responded by turning the other cheek.
- If I could turn the clock back, I don't think I'd study law again.
- It would be nice to put the clock back to the years when Mum and Dad were still alive.
- He thinks you can turn the clock back.
- It was almost like turning the clock back a couple of centuries.
- Not unless they fell into Morton's hands. Turn the clock back.
- Or not lie, maybe. Turn the clock back.
- The most important thing now is not to turn the clock back.
- This great divide can not be bridged by turning the clock back.
- We can not turn the clock back.
- What is past is past and you can not turn the clock back.
- A superior actor might have turned the corner on this film.
- He faced Main Street, where a black hearse turned the corner.
- He turned the corner toward home and heard the familiar, booming bark from the garage.
- I ran on down the road and when I turned the corner I was at the shops.
- I thought by January we would turn the corner.
- I watched him until he turned the corner.
- Their car had hardly turned the corner when the mob arrived and smashed the house to pieces.
- Willie caught sight of them as he turned the corner.
- She wouldn't be keeping the Law if she turned a deaf ear to the call or ran away from it.
- The race committee turned a deaf ear to the objections of Amelia and the other fliers.
- They may display their feelings by refusing to eat, and turning a deaf ear to anyone who calls their name.
- Thus, year after year, working people turn a deaf ear to union entreaties.
- A manufacturer of sun care products has just issued a report showing that the view on tanning has come full circle.
- Now his fortunes are poised to turn full circle again.
- Now the pattern has turned full circle.
- Only a classic endures, and sooner or later the fashion comes full circle.
- The neo-colonial wheel has almost come full circle.
- The wheel has turned full circle in the past 25 years.
- Thus the research has come full circle.
- Today, society has evolved and the wheel has come full circle.
- Adam Burns was probably good at everything he turned his hand to.
- Adult women could often turn their hand to more than one form of casual employment.
- Friday marks the start of a new music programme as Channel 4 turns its hand to dance.
- He has had to be able to turn his hand to almost anything.
- I have turned my hand to trying a bit of writing and I keep meaning to take it up again.
- Roth also turned his hand to poetry, his best-known volume being, as you no doubt guessed, his Shit Poems.
- She can also turn her hand to mending and spotting.
- She turned her hand to short stories, getting two published in the early 1990s.
- "You stand logic on its head when you use arms control as an argument for a larger defense budget," Aspin said.
- Another basic political problem here is that the Dole message turns history on its head.
- In fact, it would turn Beveridge on its head and use the national insurance system as a tax system.
- It turns time on its head.
- Many of these taboos derive from patriarchal societies taking the power of women and turning it on its head.
- Rather than ignore Philips's cherished necessity principle, the Government turned it on its head.
- Resist that temptation by turning it on its head.
- That, of course, is to stand reality on its head, since the industrialised nations are manifestly the real environmental villains.
- The next step was to turn reality on its head.
- Seifert turned on his heels and stomped away in anger.
- Cooper turned on his heels and walked away.
- He turned on his heel and went into the dining room.
- I turned on my heel and left the room.
- She turned on her heel and vanished into the murk.
- Suddenly, the boar had been faced with a cliff too steep to climb and had turned on its heel.
- Then she turned on her heel and we marched back down the hall.
- Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and left the room.
- Saints twisted the knife with a glorious try from Tony Sullivan, set up by Gary Connolly.
- The tragedy is that you have to twist the knife in your own gray matter to make this defense work.
- After being released from jail, Tony decided to turn over a new leaf.
- I know I've done some bad things in the past, but now I'm turning over a new leaf.
- Faldo, perhaps above all, will be hoping to turn over a new leaf.
- Like all fathers, I see fatherhood as a chance to turn over a new leaf.
- Monnett agrees too, so much that he has turned over a new leaf.
- There is no indication that Hollywood is turning over a new leaf, free of bloodstains.
- We urge them to turn over a new leaf.
- A second glance put my mind to rest, but for a moment there it gave me a turn.
- Across the table, Lalage put her mind to the subjugation of Dada.
- Anybody could do what I do if they put their mind to it.
- But he can turn his mind to detailed needs, like pensions, if he has to.
- He would put his mind to other issues, one of which was sobering in its own right.
- I turned my mind to Archie.
- Whatever you set your mind to, your personal total obsession, this is what kills you.
- When Medea knew the deed was done she turned her mind to one still more dreadful.
- All this quickness of mind, all her decisiveness had turned to mush when Mac came on the scene.
- Many professors turn their noses up at television.
- Time and again he had to turn his nose up into the arch of the drain to keep from drowning.
- Wagner spoke out of turn when he said the election would be delayed.
- Captain Steve Waugh had sharp words with Buchanan, telling him he had spoken out of turn.
- If both turn state's evidence, the five-year rule applies.
- The sight of the dead body turned his stomach.
- The strike has meant piles of rotting garbage in the streets. "It's enough to turn your stomach," said one resident.
- And the rich, savoury smell of the hare drifted down to meet her, turning her stomach.
- I don't know anything about art, but I know what turns my stomach.
- It was in the air, all right, a stink that turned his stomach.
- Her record speed has turned the tables on Runyan, the defending champion.
- Antony has turned the tables completely and has now completely destroyed all hopes of the conspirators ever establishing themselves in Rome.
- Especially when such a rider turns the tables.
- Glenn Hoddle reckons Town are a good bet to turn the tables.
- Isn't it nice to see a couple turning the tables on a double-glazing salesman?
- It's time to turn the tables.
- So much for turning the tables.
- That turns the tables on movie ratings.
- That would certainly turn the tables, Blue thinks, that would certainly stand the whole business on its head.
- He caught sight of a few others, but they turned tail and vanished when they saw him through the mist.
- If one animal suddenly turns tail, it is liable to be attacked and might get injured.
- She wanted to turn tail and run, but she couldn't have stood herself if she appeared such a coward.
- Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, or do you toss and turn for hours before dropping off?
- She had slept badly, tossing and turning before falling into a fitful doze.
- If your tossing and turning is taking up needed sleep time, insomnia may be the culprit.
- Recurring thoughts about her conversation with Philippe Fontaine had kept her tossing and turning most of the night.
- She had slept badly, tossing and turning in the heat though the room had been cool enough.
- This, and the sound of heavy machinery passing underneath the window, kept me tossing and turning.
- And a dream come true ... The advert for grandparents that came up trumps.
- Conrad Allen came up trumps again, finishing fourth in the boys 800 metres in a personal best 2 mins. 22.
- Ibanez seem to have taken another daring step in their continuing success story and come up trumps once again.
- In part two: Four of a kind ... Durnin plays the winning hand as United come up trumps against Luton.
- You've come up trumps, Derek.
- Had the tortoise turned turtle in some sulphurous cul-de-sac?
- And the sporty model, with its bigger tires, felt better in highway twists and turns than its richer sibling.
- But the journey of life has many twists and turns.
- Despite many bridges, viaducts, embankments, cuttings and tunnels the lines twist and turn in detours around the hills.
- First, in high winds the building could twist and turn and pull sections of the walls or windows apart.
- Or by the twists and turns of all that is buried in the human heart.
- Pros: Lots of pyrotechnics and effects, plenty of twists and turns that keep you hanging on.
- She'd twist and turn, she'd fold herself double, she'd cry out.
- The roller-coaster ride of the successful entrepreneur has many such twists and turns.
- A distorted religion has turned the world upside down, denying that anything ever existed before itself.
- I turn the box upside down and bring it out empty.
- The girl was turning everything upside down.
- The history of implants has been equally painful; implants can shift or turn themselves upside down.
- They studied the map for a while, scratched their heads, turned it upside down and studied it some more.
- We could turn the glass upside down and sideways without having the water pour out because air pressure pushes in all directions.
- Yet with an appealing brew of nationalism and promise of democratic reform, Kostunica has since turned Yugoslav politics upside down.
- A long line of people waited their turn to shake his hand.
- Everyone has to wait their turn.
- Everyone had to wait their turn or be punished by filling in a long complicated questionnaire two hundred and sixteen times.
- Goibniu would have to wait his turn.
- In one corner of the improvised surgery lay four other forms on stretchers, waiting their turn.
- Inside, he picked up a magazine and waited his turn.
- It is unnecessarily unnerving to be waiting your turn while potential workmates eye you up and down.
- Jelani had to wait his turn.
- Men line up in the yard, smoking and passing around flasks and bottles while they wait their turn inside.
- Wearing red overalls, the princess laughed and chatted to other drivers while she waited her turn.
- She was one of those people who could turn on the waterworks in order to get what they want.
- Before Reagan turned on the waterworks, crying in public was widely considered a sign of weakness.
- Stock prices have taken a turn for the worse.
WORD FAMILYnounturnupturnturningverbturnoverturnadjectiveupturned
1your body [intransitive, transitive] to move your body so that you are looking in a different direction: Ricky turned and walked away. She turned her head in surprise.turn around/round/away Dan turned away, hiding the fear in his eyes.turn (your head/face) to do something He turned around to look at Kim. ‘No,’ she said, turning her head to see David’s reaction. Brigitte glared at him, turned on her heel (=turned away suddenly because of anger), and stomped out of the room.2object [transitive usually + adverb/preposition] to move something so that it is pointing or aiming in a different directionturn something around/over/upside down etc You may turn over your exam papers now.turn something on something/somebody The firemen turned their hoses on the blaze.turn something to face something/somebody Could you turn your chairs to face this way?turn a/the page (=move a page in a book over so that you can read the next page)turn something down/up He turned down the corner of the sheet to peep at the baby.3direction a)[intransitive, transitive] to go in a new direction when you are walking, driving etc, or to make the vehicle you are using do this: I watched until he turned the corner.turn left/right Turn left at the church.turn into/onto/down etc She cycled up the street and turned into Long Road. Turning the car around, we headed home. b)[intransitive] if a road, river etc turns, it curves and starts to go in a new direction: Further on, the river turns east. The road turns sharply at the top of the hill.4move around central point [intransitive, transitive] to move around a central or fixed point, or to make something move in this way: The wheels turned slowly, then picked up speed. For some reason, the key wouldn’t turn.turn the handle/knob/key/tap etc She gently turned the handle of the bedroom door.5change [linking verb, transitive] to start to have a different quality, or to make something do thisturn (something) red/blue/white etc Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink.the weather turns cold/nasty etc (also it turns cold/nasty etc) Then it turned cold and started to rain.turn nasty/mean/violent etc (=suddenly become angry, violent etc) The police are worried that the situation could turn violent.► see thesaurus at becomeGRAMMAR: Linking verbsTurn is a linking verb in this meaning. It links the subject of the sentence with an adjective: · His face turned pale.· Their relationship turned sour.6attention/thoughts [intransitive, transitive] to start to think about, deal with, look at etc a particular person, thing, or subject, instead of what you were thinking about etc beforeturn your attention/thoughts/efforts etc to something/somebody Many investors have turned their attention to opportunities abroad. Phil turned his gaze towards the older man.turn to/towards etc something As usual, the conversation turned back to her children. Now is the time of year when thoughts turn in the direction of summer holidays. Next the Senator turned to education.7turn your back (on somebody/something) a)to refuse to help, support, or be involved with someone or something: How can you turn your back on your own mother? In his twenties he turned his back on his Catholic faith. b)to turn so that your back is pointing towards someone or something, and you are not looking at them: Angrily, she turned her back on him.8age/time [transitive] to become a particular age, or to reach a particular timesomebody turns 15/20/40 etc My son’s just turned 18.it’s turned 2 o'clock/5/midday etc It’s just turned three.9turn something inside out a)to pull a piece of clothing, bag etc so that the inside is facing out: Turn the sweater inside out before you wash it. b) (also turn something upside down) to search everywhere for something, in a way that makes a place very untidy: Thieves had turned the house upside down. c) (also turn something upside down/turn something on its head) to completely change the way that something is done, organized, thought about etc: New approaches to marketing turn old practices upside down. Her opinion of him had been turned on its head.10have turned the corner to start to improve after going through a difficult period or experience: The manager of the hotel chain claims that they have turned the corner.11make/let go out [transitive] to make or let someone or something go out from where they areturn somebody/something out/outside/into etc (something) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board. There are some criminals who cannot be turned loose onto the streets.12tide [intransitive] if the tide turns, the sea starts to come in or go out again13change development [intransitive, transitive] if something such as a war, situation, game of sport etc turns, or someone turns it, something happens to change the way it is developing: Mills turned the game by scoring twice. The victory turned the tide of the war in North Africa.14turn traitor to be disloyal to a person, group, or idea that you have strongly supported before15turn your ankle to twist your ankle in a way that injures it SYN sprain: Wright turned his ankle in the first minutes of the game.16an actor turned politician/a housewife turned author etc someone who has done one job and then does something completely different → poacher turned gamekeeper at poacher17turn somebody’s head to be attractive in a romantic or sexual way: She turned heads whenever she walked into a room.18turn (people’s) heads if something turns people’s heads, they are surprised by it: It did turn some heads when he moved back to the village.19turn a profit American English to make a profit20turn a phrase to say something in a particular way: Cohen knows how to turn a phrase in his lyrics.21land [transitive] to break up soil so that it is ready for growing crops: a distant tractor turning the soil22wood/metal [transitive] to shape a wooden or metal object using a special tool23milk [intransitive] British English if milk turns, it becomes sour → turn a blind eye (to something) at blind1(3), → turn the other cheek at cheek1(4), → turn full circle at circle1(6), → somebody would turn in their grave at grave1(3), → not turn a hair at hair(11), → turn your hand to (doing) something at hand1(26), → turn over a new leaf at leaf1(3), → turn your nose up (at something) at nose1(5), → turn your stomach at stomach1(4), → turn the tables (on somebody) at table1(6), → turn tail at tail1(9)THESAURUS– Meaning 4turn to move around a central or fixed point: · The wheels of the train began to turn.go around (also go round British English) to turn around a central point. Go around is a little more informal than turn and is very common in everyday English: · When the fan goes around, the warm air is pushed back downwards.revolve/rotate to turn around and around a central point. Rotate and revolve are more formal than turn and sound more technical: · The Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours.· The stage revolves at various points during the performance.spin to turn around many times very quickly: · The ice skater began to spin faster and faster.whirl /wɜːl $ wɜːrl/ to spin around extremely quickly, often in a powerful or uncontrolled way: · The blades of the helicopter whirled overhead.twirl (around) to spin around quickly, especially as part of a dance or performance: · The couples were twirling around on the dance floor.swirl (around) to move around quickly in a circular movement, especially when the movement goes outwards or upwards from the center: · Her white skirt swirled around her legs as she danced.· The leaves began to swirl around.spiral to move in a continuous curve that gets nearer to or further from its central point as it goes around: · The smoke spiralled toward the ceiling.turn (somebody) against somebody/something phrasal verb to stop liking or supporting someone or something, or to make someone do this: Many people had turned against the war. Dave felt she was deliberately turning the kids against him.turn around (also turn round British English) phrasal verb1if a business, department etc that is not successful turns around, or if someone turns it around, it starts to be successful: The company turned around from losses of £1.4 million last year to profits of £26,800.turn something ↔ around At Rockwell International he had turned around a badly performing division. → turnaround2if a situation, game etc turns around, or if someone turns it around, it changes and starts to develop in the way you want: After I met him, my whole life turned around.turn something ↔ around Fender’s batting could turn matches around in half an hour.3 turn around and say/do etc something spoken to say or do something that is unexpected or that seems unfair or unreasonable: You can’t just turn around and say that it was all my fault.4 turn something ↔ around to consider an idea, question etc in a different way, or change the words of something so that it has a different meaning: Let’s turn the whole idea around and look at it from another angle.5turn something ↔ around to complete the process of making a product or providing a service: We can turn around 500 units by next week.6every time somebody turns around spoken very often or all the time: Every time I turn around he seems to be checking up on me.turn away phrasal verb1turn somebody ↔ away to refuse to let someone enter a place or join an organization, for example because it is full: The show was so popular police had to turn people away. Thousands of applicants are turned away each year.2turn somebody ↔ away to refuse to give someone sympathy, help, or support: Anyone who comes to us will not be turned away. The insurance company has promised not to turn away its existing customers.3turn (somebody) away from somebody/something to stop supporting someone, or stop using or being interested in something, or to make someone do this: Consumers are turning away from credit cards. events that turned Henry away from his familyturn back phrasal verb1to go back in the direction you came from, or to make someone or something do this: It’s getting late – maybe we should turn back.turn somebody/something ↔ back The UN convoy was turned back at the border.2to return to doing something in the way it was done beforeturn back to The people are turning back to natural resources to survive. We’ve promised to help, and there’s no turning back (=you cannot change this)! → turn back the clock at clock1(3)turn somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb1to turn the switch on a machine such as an oven, radio etc so that it produces less heat, sound etc OPP turn up: Can you turn the TV down? I’m trying to work.2to refuse an offer, request, or invitation: They offered her the job but she turned it down. I’m not going to turn down an invitation to go to New York! Josie’s already turned him down (=refused his offer of marriage).turn in phrasal verb1turn something ↔ in to give something to a person in authority, especially an illegal weapon or something lost or stolen: The rebels were told to turn in their weapons and ammunition.turn in to My wallet was turned in to the police two days later.2turn something ↔ in American English to give back something you have borrowed or rented SYN return: When do the library books have to be turned in?3turn in something to produce a particular profit, result etc: Bimec turned in net profits of £2.4 million. Last night the team turned in another dazzling performance.4turn somebody ↔ in to tell the police who or where a criminal is: Margrove’s wife finally turned him in.5to go to bed: I think I’ll turn in early tonight.6turn something ↔ in American English to give a piece of work you have done to a teacher, your employer etc SYN hand in British English: Have you all turned in your homework assignments?turn (somebody/something) into something phrasal verb1to become something different, or to make someone or something do this: The sofa turns into a bed. A few weeks later, winter had turned into spring. Hollywood discovered her and turned her into a star.2to change by magic from one thing into another, or to make something do this: In a flash, the prince turned into a frog. The witch had turned them all into stone.3days turned into weeks/months turned into years etc used to say that time passed slowly while you waited for something to happen: Weeks turned into months, and still there was no letter.turn off phrasal verb1turn something ↔ off to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, engine, light etc stop operating by pushing a button, turning a key etc SYN switch off OPP turn on: Don’t forget to turn the lights off when you leave.2turn something ↔ off to stop the supply of water, gas etc from flowing by turning a handle OPP turn on: They’ve turned the gas off for a couple of hours.3turn off (something) to leave the road you are travelling on and start travelling on another roadturn off at/near etc I think we should have turned off at the last exit.turn off the road/motorway etc Mark turned off the highway and into Provincetown. → turn-off4 turn somebody ↔ off to make someone decide they do not like something: Any prospective buyer will be turned off by the sight of rotting wood. → turn-off5 turn somebody ↔ off to make someone feel that they are not attracted to you in a sexual way OPP turn on: Men who stink of beer really turn me off. → turn-offturn on phrasal verb1turn something ↔ on to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, engine, light etc start operating by pushing a button, turning a key etc SYN switch on OPP turn off: Jake turned on his computer and checked his mail.2turn something ↔ on to make the supply of water, gas etc start flowing from something by turning a handle OPP turn off: He turned on the gas and lit the stove. ‘I’m thirsty,’ she said, turning on the tap.3turn on somebody also turn upon somebody to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words: Peter turned on Rae and screamed, ‘Get out of my sight!’4turn on something also turn upon something if a situation, event, argument etc turns on a particular thing or idea, it depends on that thing: As usual, everything turned on how much money was available.5turn somebody on to make someone feel sexually excited: The way he looked at her really turned her on. → turn-on6turn somebody on to interest someone, or to make someone become interested in something: Science fiction just doesn’t turn me on.turn on to It was Walter who turned me on to vegetarian food.7turn on the charm also turn it on to suddenly start to be very nice, amusing, and interesting, especially in a way that is not sincere: Simon was good at turning on the charm at parties.turn out phrasal verb1to happen in a particular way, or to have a particular result, especially one that you did not expectturn out well/badly/fine etc It was a difficult time, but eventually things turned out all right.it turns out (that) It turned out that I was wrong. As it turned out (=used to say what happened in the end), he passed the exam quite easily.turn out to be something That guy turned out to be Maria’s second cousin.2turn the light out to stop the flow of electricity to a light by pressing a switch, pulling a string etc: Don’t forget to turn out the lights when you go!3if a lot of people turn out for an event, they go to watch it or take part in itturn out for About 70% of the population turned out for the election.turn out to do something Thousands turned out to watch yesterday’s match against Ireland. → turnout4turn somebody ↔ out to force someone to leave a place permanently, especially their home: If you can’t pay the rent, they turn you out.5turn something ↔ out to produce or make something: The factory turns out 300 units a day.6well/beautifully/badly etc turned out dressed in good, beautiful etc clothes: elegantly turned-out young ladies7turn something ↔ out a)to empty something completely by taking out the contents: The policeman made him turn out his pockets. b)British English to take out everything in a room, drawer etc and clean the room etc thoroughly: Lea decided to turn out the attic.turn over phrasal verb1turn something over to somebody to give someone the right to own something, or to make someone responsible for dealing with something: He’ll turn the shop over to his son when he retires.turn the matter/problem/responsibility etc over to somebody I’m turning the project over to you.2turn something over to something to use land, a building etc for a different purpose: There is a new plan to turn the land over to wind farming.3turn somebody over to somebody to take a criminal to the police or another official organization: Suspected terrorists are immediately turned over to the law.4turn over something if a business turns over a particular amount of money, it earns that amount in a particular period of time: Within ten years the theme park was turning over £20 million. → turnover5if an engine turns over, or if someone turns it over, it starts to work: The engine turned over twice and then stopped.6British English to turn a page in a book or a sheet of paper to the opposite side: Turn over and look at the next page.7British English to change to another channel on a television: Can we turn over? There’s a film I want to see.8turn something over British English to search a place thoroughly or steal things from it, making it very untidy: Burglars had been in and turned the whole house over. → turn over a new leaf at leaf1(3), → turn something over in your mind at mind1(17)turn round phrasal verb British English → turn aroundturn to somebody/something phrasal verb1to try to get help, advice, or sympathy from someone: I don’t know who to turn to. The Namibian government turned to South Africa for help.2to start to do or use something new, especially as a way of solving a problem: Many people here are turning to solar power.turn to drink/crime/drugs etc addicts who turn to crime to finance their habit3turn (something) to something to become a different quality, attitude, form of a substance etc, or to make something do this: Our laughter turned to horror as we realized that Jody was really hurt. When water turns to steam, it expands. A sudden storm turned the earth to mud.4to look at a particular page in a book: Turn to page 655 for more information.turn up phrasal verb1turn something ↔ up to turn a switch on a machine such as an oven, radio etc so that it produces more heat, sound etc OPP turn down: Turn the oven up to 220. Turn up the radio!2to be found, especially by chance, after having been lost or searched for: Eventually my watch turned up in a coat pocket.3to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is unexpected: You can’t just turn up and expect a meal.turn up late/early/on time etc Steve turned up late, as usual.4if an opportunity or situation turns up, it happens, especially when you are not expecting it: Don’t worry, I’m sure a job will turn up soon.5turn something ↔ up to find something by searching for it thoroughly: The police investigation hasn’t turned up any new evidence.6turn something ↔ up British English to shorten a skirt, trousers etc by folding up the bottom and sewing it → turn up trumps at trump1(4)turn upon somebody/something phrasal verb formal1to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words SYN turn on2if a situation, event, argument etc turns upon a particular thing or idea, it depends on that thing SYN turn on: The court case turned upon a technicality of company law.turn1 verbturn2 noun
turnturn2 ●●● S1 W1 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Loosen the screw one complete turn in order to release the valve.
- She can do a 360-degree turn on water skis.
- Take the first turn on your right.
- Take the first turning after the traffic lights.
- Tighten the screw another two or three turns.
- We were supposed to take Highway 12, but I think we missed the turn.
- With three swift turns of the wheel, he steered the boat away from the rocks.
- In turn, however, the question of where population is growing - or declining - is fundamentally related to human welfare.
- My turn to die had come and I had been inexplicably reprieved.
- The impartial flames in turn drove them back.
- The OEMs in turn pass some of those reductions on to their customers to increase market share.
- This in turn gave the schools the heavy assignment of universal literacy.
- When it was my turn, I always used to think my time went quicker than when Frank was carrying it.
Longman Language Activatorto go around in circles
if something turns , it moves around a fixed central point: · Slowly the wheels of the train began to turn.· I heard the door knob turning, and then Frank opened the door and tiptoed in.· As the propeller stopped turning, Grady ran up to the plane.
also go round British to move in a continuous circular movement: · When the fan goes around it forces the warm air back down.· The gear was going round, but it didn't seem to be catching on anything.
to turn around many times very quickly: · The ice skater began to spin faster and faster.· The wheels were spinning in the mud, but the car wouldn't move.spin aroundalso + round British: · The boy was spinning around in his father's desk chair.
to turn around and around a fixed point: · The Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours.· A disco ball revolved slowly over the empty dance floor.· The stage rotates giving the audience a constantly changing view.
also go/run/drive etc round in circles especially British to go, run, drive etc continuously or repeatedly around in a circular way: · The children went round in circles till the music stopped.· We were driving around in circles, weaving through the parking lot.
also go/run/drive etc round and round British to go around in circles many times: · Billy will sit and watch his train going round and round on its little track for hours.· The steers walked restlessly around and around their pen.
to spin around extremely quickly, often in an uncontrolled way: · The blades of the helicopter whirled powerfully overhead.whirl aroundalso + round British: · Flies whirled round the piles of sticky sweets.· Dust and sand were whirling around in the air, as the desert wind began to get stronger.
to move slowly upwards or downwards in a circular way around a central point, while also moving either in towards the centre or out from it: · Smoke spiralled upward from the chimney.· We watched the leaves spiral down from the trees in the cold autumn wind.
if water, dust, mist etc swirls , it keeps turning around quickly in a twisting, circular movement: · Dust swirled like smoke in the evening sunshine.swirl aroundalso round British: · Jessie's pale dress swirled round her slender ankles.· The wind swirling around the tree had blown all the snow away from its trunk.
if a bird or aircraft circles , it flies around above a particular place, waiting for something: · We all looked towards the sky where the vultures were circling.· The plane circled the runway several times before landing.circle overhead/above etc: · Helicopters circled overhead, trying to get pictures of the crime scene.
if someone twirls, they spin around very quickly, especially as part of a dance: · Rachel took her father's hand and twirled in and out under his arm.twirl around/about: · Half a dozen couples were twirling about to a waltz.
to make something turn around to make something turn by moving it with your hand: · Tim turned the handle slowly and pushed open the door.· She put the key in the ignition and turned it, but nothing happened.turn something around (=so that it is facing the opposite direction): · If we turn the table around we can fit more chairs in the room.
to turn something with a quick firm circular movement: · "I can't get the top off." "Try twisting it the other way."· We twisted and tugged to get the mussels loose from their shells.
to turn something such as a handle or part of a machine around and around, especially in order to make something move or start working: · You wind the handle on the side to make the music play.· She wound the car window down to speak to the police officer.· My watch has stopped - I must have forgotten to wind it.
to turn something around on a central rod or point, usually so that it is facing a different direction: · He swivelled the camera on the tripod to follow her as she crossed the yard.swivel something aroundalso swivel something round British: · She swivelled the computer screen around so that I could see it too.
British /twirl American to turn something small backwards and forwards many times with your fingers, especially because you are bored, or are trying to make something work: · She sat in the bar twirling the stem of her wine glass, wishing she were somewhere else.· He kept twiddling the knobs on the radio trying to get a signal.
to make something turn in circles very quickly to make something turn around and around extremely quickly: · Spin the wheel of the bicycle to make sure that it is fastened correctly.· He spun the dial on the padlock right, then left, then right again.
to repeatedly make something turn in circles or spin around, especially with your fingers: · I've never been able to twirl a baton.· He picked up a pen and twirled it between his fingers.· The man, without answering, began to twirl the ends of his moustache.
to make something spin around in the air extremely quickly: · Whirl the ingredients in a blender at high speed for a minute.· The warriors approached, whirling their swords and spears in the air.
a turning movement the circular movement that a person or object makes when turning something or being turned: · She can do a 360-degree turn on water skis.· Loosen the screw one complete turn in order to release the valve.turn of: · With three swift turns of the wheel, he steered the boat away from the rocks.
one complete circular movement around a fixed or central point - use this in technical contexts: · The shaft spins at 950 revolutions per minute.· The planet rotates in the same direction as its revolution around the sun.
a very fast turn that is repeated many times: · He made a quick spin to avoid the oncoming player.spin of: · the spin of a propeller
turning with a circular movement designed to turn with a circular movement: · A revolving door led into the hotel lobby.· The 28-story building is topped by a revolving restaurant that offers ever-changing views of the city.
able to turn with a circular movement - use this especially in technical contexts: · The plastic is cut by a rotating disc.· The stones are polished in a rotating drum full of abrasive powder.
to turn your head or your body to turn your head or body so that you are looking in a different direction: · Campbell turned and walked out of the room.turn to: · "What do you think we should do?" she said, turning to her husband.turn to do something: · She heard the door opening and turned to see who was coming in.
also turn round British to turn your body so that you are looking in the opposite direction: · Ian, turn round and face the front!· I turned around quickly to see if anyone was following me.· "Does my dress look OK?" "Turn around and let me see the back."
to turn so that you are no longer facing someone, especially because you want to avoid them: · Alice turned away with tears in her eyes.· The scene was so sickening I had to turn away.turn away from: · She frowned and turned away from him without speaking.
to turn so that you are no longer facing someone, especially because you are angry or disappointed, or because you are deliberately ignoring them: · As soon as I turn my back, the children start to misbehave.turn your back on: · Don't turn your back on me - I'm talking to you!· She turned her back on him and began to walk away.
to turn your head in order to look at someone or in order to look away from someone: · She turned her head to avoid making eye contact with the beggar.· Whenever Suzie walks into a room all the men immediately turn their heads.
to quickly and suddenly turn, especially before walking away: · David angrily turned on his heel and marched towards the door.· When her ex-husband entered the room, she turned on her heel and left.
also swing round British to turn around suddenly and quickly, especially because you are angry or surprised: · He swung around at the sound of her voice and smiled at her.· I felt a hand on my shoulder and swung round quickly to find Chris standing behind me.
also spin round British to turn around very quickly, especially because you are angry or because something unexpected has suddenly happened: · The sudden crash made her spin round and look back down the passage.· Dobbs yelled back and spun around with clenched fists, ready to fight.
to turn around quickly as if you are fixed to a central point, or when you are sitting in a chair which can turn round: · Ralph swivelled in his chair and looked directly at Meg.swivel aroundalso + round British: · Mr Tench swivelled round in astonishment as the men burst through his office door.
to turn your body when you are lying down to change the position of your body while you are lying down, so that you are facing in a different direction: · The bed squeaks every time I turn over.· Turn over and I'll give you a massage.· He opened his eyes and turned over on his side, facing her.
to turn your body so that it is facing the opposite direction, in a single smooth movement: · The cat purred, rolled over on its back, and stretched.· I heard the alarm clock, but I rolled over and went back to sleep.
to change your direction when you are walking or driving to change your direction when you are walking or driving: · He saw a police car up ahead, so he turned and went down a side street.· Soon after leaving harbour, the ships turned and headed north.turn left/right: · Turn left at the next intersection.turn back: · It's getting late - I think we should turn back before it gets dark.turn off (=leave a street in order to go down another street): · Turn off Delaney Road just after the church.turn onto/into (=start going along another street after changing direction): · Turn onto Lowell Street, then go straight for three blocks.turn a corner: · I turned a corner and nearly ran into Caroline.
to turn while you are moving so that you start going in a different direction: · The horse abruptly changed direction, nearly throwing the rider off.· Changing direction on skis isn't difficult once you've learned the technique.
if a vehicle, ship, or aircraft changes course , it changes the direction in which it is travelling: · The yacht changed course and approached the island.· The plane must change course to avoid flying through the storm.
if a vehicle or moving object veers , it suddenly and unexpectedly changes direction: veer off/away/across etc: · The car suddenly veered across the road into oncoming traffic.· The boat was heading for the rocks but at the last minute veered off in another direction.
if a vehicle or moving object swerves , it suddenly changes direction, especially in order to avoid hitting something: · The driver swerved to avoid a child, and crashed into a signpost.swerve across/into/towards etc: · Dozens were injured when a passenger bus swerved into the wrong lane and slammed into another bus.
when a road or river changes direction the place where a road or river turns: · The taxi went around the bend at an alarming speed.bend in: · The balcony overlooked a wide bend in the river.round a bend: · As we rounded the bend, I could see the town up ahead.
a place where there is a bend in the road: · He lost control of the car on a sharp curve.round a curve: · I rounded the curve looking for a place to pull over.
also turning British a place where you can turn and go into another road: · Take the first turning after the traffic lights.· We were supposed to take Highway 12, but I think we missed the turn.
if a road, path, or river winds , it frequently turns and changes direction, in smooth curves: wind between/through/up etc: · A narrow road wound up the hillside towards the little house.· The path wound through the orchard and between small beds of flowers.wind its way: · The staircase appears almost to be floating on air, as it winds its way up three stories.
to frequently turn and change direction, especially in small but sharp turns: twist up/through/towards etc: · A dry stream bed twisted through thick tree roots.twist its way: · We approached Assisi via the dusty road that twists its way up Monte Subasio.
to turn and change direction, especially around things, in smooth curves: weave through/up/across etc: · The river weaved across the plain, towards the sea.weave its way: · The old highway weaved its way through Tucson.
when a vehicle, ship etc turns over in an accident if a vehicle turns over , it turns upside down, especially as a result of an accident: · The car smashed into the post, turned over, and burst into flames.· The train was travelling so fast that when it came off the rails it turned over onto its roof.
if a vehicle or ship rolls over , it turns upside down because it is not correctly balanced: · The truck jack-knifed and then rolled over.· Ships have stabilizers to prevent them from rolling over in rough seas.
if a boat capsizes , or someone or something capsizes it, it turns over in the water: · The ship capsized in rough waters with the loss of 208 lives.· People were fighting for places in the lifeboat, and there was a real danger of it capsizing.· A huge wave struck the side of our boat, almost capsizing it.
if a vehicle or boat overturns , or someone or something overturns it, it turns over: · The truck had overturned, but the driver was not injured.· The whole crew was drowned when their boat overturned in a storm.· During the riots several cars were overturned and set on fire.
to turn something upside down: turn something over · Do not turn your exam papers over until I tell you to.· She turned the envelope over and began making notes on the back.turn over something · The children were turning over the rocks to see what was underneath.
to turn something so that the other side of it is facing upwards or outwards: · Continue to turn the fritter until both sides are golden brown.· I'll read the story and you turn the pages. OK, honey?turn something upside down: · Take out the spark plugs and turn the cylinder block upside down.
to turn something over with a quick, sharp movement: · Come help me flip this mattress.flip something over: · She flipped the pancakes over with one smooth movement.flip over something: · I flipped over the card to see what was written on the other side.
formal to turn something upside down: · A camera inverts the image it receives.· Invert the cake and pan on a wire rack and remove the pan.
to help someone to make it easier for someone to do something by doing part of their work, showing them what to do, or giving them something they need: · I'm ready to help. Is there something for me to do?· Dad, I don't understand my homework. Will you help me?· The money will be used to help starving children around the world.help with: · Dan's mother has been great about helping with the kids.help do something: · Warren offered to help clean up the house after the party.help to do something: · Part of the assistant's job is to help to organize conferences and keep the director informed.help somebody do something: · Help me lift this, will you?help somebody to do something: · Her uncle said he would help her to find a job.help somebody with something: · Do you want me to help you with those bags?help somebody into/off/across/down etc (=help someone go somewhere): · "Did you enjoy the trip?" asked Jack, helping her out of the boat.
informal to help someone do something, especially something they have to do in their home such as carrying or lifting things: · Scott is moving Saturday and I promised to lend a hand.give/lend somebody a hand: · Give me a hand and let's see if we can get this box in the car.give/lend a hand with: · Could you give me a hand with the shopping.
formal to help someone do something, especially by doing all the easier or less important things for them so that their job is easier: · Can you do the job alone, or do you want someone to assist you?assist in: · In this position, you will assist in training new employees.assist with: · Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.assist somebody in/with something: · A consultant has been brought in to assist management in restructuring the company.
to help someone by doing something for them that they would normally do themselves: · If you're not feeling well, I'll do the shopping for you.· Did you have someone do your homework for you? It doesn't look like your writing.
British /favor American to do something to help someone, especially a friend or someone you know well: · Could you do me a favour and mail these letters for me?· She's always doing favours for us. The least we can do is help her out now.do somebody a big favour/favor (=help someone a lot): · They did us a big favor by letting us stay there, you know.
to help someone do something, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work: · Their son used to help out in the shop when it was busy.· Organizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.help out with: · The kids are always good about helping out with the chores.help somebody out: · While I'm gone, try to help your Mom out, OK?help out somebody: · No need to thank me - I was just glad to help out a friend.
to help someone by doing something for them that they have not asked you to do, because you think they need your help and you want to help them: · She's always happy to do a stranger a good turn.· He did me a good turn when he advised me not to sell my house - it's worth twice as much now.
British /do your part American to do what you can to help in a bad or difficult situation, especially because you think you are expected to do it or that it is your duty: · I've done my bit - now it's up to you.do your bit for: · Brown feels that she's done her part for the Democratic Party.
formal to offer to help someone who is in difficulty and who will not be able to continue without your help: · It took an ambulance 27 minutes to come to the aid of the accident victims.· Many expect the central government to come to the assistance of the ailing industry.
to help a person or group: give help/assistance/support to: · The program gives assistance to unemployed mothers and their children.give somebody help/assistance/support: · My family gave me very little support when I decided to go back to college. · Any kind of help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
doing things one after the other · It's easier if you count things up in order, so that you don't get confused.· A route is given to the postman, and he makes deliveries in order.
doing things separately and in a particular order, rather than all together: · One by one, the students were called in to be interviewed.· The toy is made so that when you hold the top square, the rest fall down one after another, making a clacking noise.
one person, then the next, then the next etc: · I was hard on my eldest son, and he, in turn, was mean to his little brother.· We distribute the book to charities, and those organizations in turn give the books to needy children.
also take it in turns British if two or more people take turns or take it in turns to do something, they decide to do it in order, one person after another, so that it is shared equally and fairly: · Small children find it almost impossible to take turns.take turns doing something: · We take turns doing the dishes.take turns to do something: · Mandy and Debbie took it in turns to look after the baby.
to do something with another person if two people share a job or activity, they each do a part of it: · Judy and I shared the driving, so it wasn't too tiring.share something with somebody: · She shares the job with another woman who also has a young child.
if two or more people take it in turns or take turns to do something, they do it one after the other, and each person does it several times: · If the housework is too much for one person, why don't you take it in turns?take it in turns/take turns to do something: · Everyone took turns to patrol the streets at night.take it in turns/take turns (at/in) doing something: · We took turns sitting in the front seat.· Reading need not be a solitary activity. Students can take turns in reading aloud.
if two people alternate , one person does something one time and the other person does it the next time, changing regularly: · You'll have to alternate. One of you can use the room in the mornings, and the other in the evenings.· The class has two teachers who alternate on a weekly basis.
to wait to spend time not doing very much, while you are expecting something to happen or expecting someone to arrive: · Wait here until I get back.· Hurry up, everyone's waiting.wait for somebody: · I'll stay here and wait for Suzie.wait for something: · We spent almost an hour just waiting for the bus.wait (for) a minute/two hours/a long time etc: · Where have you been? I've been waiting since 7:00.· You'll have to wait a few minutes - I'm not ready yet.wait to do something: · Are you waiting to use the phone?wait for somebody/something to do something: · She waited for him to reply.· He waited for the applause to die down before he continued speaking.keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, for example by arriving late): · I'm so sorry I kept you waiting.wait and see (=wait to find out what will happen): · I've done as much as I can - now all I can do is wait and see what happens.wait-and-see attitude/position/approach etc: · The airline industry has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the report's proposals.
spoken to wait, especially in a difficult situation, hoping that something good will happen: · Captain Damas decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.· We knew that if we hung on long enough, things were bound to change.
also hang about British informal informal to wait in one place without doing anything, so that you are wasting time: · Sally hung around for over an hour but no-one came.· I wish we could get on with the job. I hate all this hanging about.hang around for British: · We spent half an hour hanging about for Kerry.hang around for hours/ages etc: · We were hanging around for hours before they opened the gates.keep somebody hanging around: · We can't keep our troops hanging around forever, doing nothing.
to wait and be ready to do something if needed: · The family stood by, knowing that she might wake up any minute.stand by for: · The crew was ordered to stand by for take-off.stand by to do something: · The Foreign Minister had a helicopter standing by to whisk him to the northern city of Afula.
to wait before doing something that other people are also waiting to do, because some of them have the right to do it before you: · Everyone has to wait their turn.wait your turn to do something: · A long line of people waited their turn to shake his hand.
to wait until something has finished, especially something unpleasant or boring: sit it out: · If the plane's late, there's nothing we can do except sit it out.sit something out: · Tony forced himself to sit the play out.sit out something: · Like many people in the community, we sat out the storm at home, hoping no disasters would occur.
formal to wait for something: · The committee is awaiting a decision from head office before it takes any action.· Two men have been charged with murder and are now in prison awaiting trial.
used to describe things that you have waited for for a long time: · The next morning we received the long-awaited order to attack.· It is hoped that these measures will trigger the long-awaited upturn in the economy.
WORD SETSarterial, adjectiveartery, nounasphalt, nounAve., avenue, nounballast, nounbarricade, nounBelisha beacon, nounbeltway, nounbitumen, nounblacktop, nounblind alley, nounblind spot, nounBlvd., bollard, nounbottleneck, nounboulevard, nounbox junction, nounbus lane, nounbus shelter, nounbus stop, nounbypass, nounbypass, verbbyway, nouncamber, nouncarriageway, nounCatseye, nouncauseway, nouncentral reservation, nounchicane, nounchippings, nouncircus, nounclose, nouncloverleaf, nouncobble, verbcobble, nouncobbled, adjectivecobblestone, nouncone, nouncontraflow, nouncorner, nouncorniche, nouncrash barrier, nouncrawler lane, nouncrescent, nouncrossing, nouncrossroads, nouncross street, nouncrosswalk, nouncul-de-sac, nouncurb, noundead end, noundirt road, noundiversion, noundivided highway, noundogleg, nounDr, dual carriageway, nounesplanade, nounexit, nounexpress, adjectiveexpressway, nounfast lane, nounflyover, nounfootbridge, nounfreeway, nounfwy., gradient, noungravelled, adjectivegridlock, noungrit, noungrit, verbgutter, nounhairpin bend, nounhard shoulder, nounheadroom, nounhedgerow, nounhigh road, nounhighway, nounhill, nounhump-backed bridge, nouninterchange, nounintersect, verbintersection, nouninterstate, nounkerb, nounlamp-post, nounlane, nounlay-by, nounlevel crossing, nounmacadam, nounmain road, nounmanhole, nounmedian, nounmeter maid, nounmews, nounmilestone, nounmini-roundabout, nounmotorway, nounnegotiable, adjectiveoff-ramp, nounoff-road, adjectiveone-way, adjectiveon-ramp, nounorbital, adjectiveparade, nounparkway, nounpath, nounpathway, nounpave, verbpavement, nounpedestrian, nounpedestrian, adjectivepedestrian crossing, nounpedestrianize, verbpedestrian precinct, nounpelican crossing, nounpiazza, nounpike, nounPk, Pl., plaza, nounpoint, nounpothole, nounpromenade, nounramp, nounRd., rest area, nounresurface, verbright of way, nounring road, nounroad, nounroadblock, nounroad sign, nounroad tax, nounroadway, nounroadworks, nounroundabout, nounrush hour, nounrut, nounrutted, adjectiveS-bend, nounS-curve, nounservice area, nounservice station, nounshoulder, nounsidewalk, nounsignpost, nounsingle track road, nounsleeping policeman, nounslip road, nounsnow route, nounsoft shoulder, nounspeed bump, nounspeed limit, nounspur, nounSt, stoplight, nounstreet, nounstreetcar, nounstreetlight, nounstrip, nounsubway, nounsuperhighway, nounsuspension bridge, nounswitchback, nountar, nountar, verbtarmac, nountarmac, verbtaxi rank, nounterminus, nounthoroughfare, nounthroughway, nounthruway, nounT-junction, nountoll, nountollbooth, nountoll bridge, nountollgate, nountoll road, nountollway, nountowaway zone, nountraffic, nountraffic calming, nountraffic circle, nountraffic cone, nountraffic island, nountraffic lights, nountraffic warden, nountramlines, nountruck stop, nountrunk road, nounturn, nounturning, nounturn-off, nounturnout, nounturnpike, noununderpass, nounway, nounwayside, nounweighbridge, nounyellow line, nounzebra crossing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It’s your turn. Roll the dice. I think it’s our turn to drive the kids to school this week. There’s a sharp turn coming up ahead. Make a left turn at the station. From then on, our fortunes took a downward turn. My career had already taken a new turn. The president was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Two days after the operation, Dad took a turn for the worse. youngsters with an independent turn of mindCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Don’t worry, it’ll turn out all right. All her hopes and dreams had turned to ashes. Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). The president’s fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve). The children were doing cartwheels in the park. After a while, the conversation turned to a friend’s coming wedding. The boy blushed crimson. I got a shock when he just turned up on the doorstep. She was a tall thin woman who had gone grey early. I always turn my jeans inside out to wash them. He thought the door was locked, but he turned the knob and the door opened. events which took place at the turn of the last millennium The boiled vegetables had turned to mush. The weather turned nasty towards the evening. He suddenly went pale. What if the car you buy turns out to be a pig in a poke? Iago’s lie is the pivot on which the play turns. Most young talented players are determined to turn pro. His face turned purple with rage. Every time you mention his name, she goes bright red. Eileen blushed scarlet at the joke. Lana turned a somersault in midair. As time went by, their marriage turned sour. A new report has turned the spotlight on the problem of poverty in the inner cities. a politician who turned traitor (=became a traitor) to the government He made a quick U-turn and sped away. Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending. Can you turn the volume up?
It’s your turn. Roll the dice. I think it’s our turn to drive the kids to school this week. (=go along the first etc road) I think we took a wrong turn coming out of town. Take the second turn on the left.
I think we took a wrong turn coming out of town. Take the second turn on the left. There’s a sharp turn coming up ahead. Make a left turn at the station. From then on, our fortunes took a downward turn. My career had already taken a new turn. The president was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Two days after the operation, Dad took a turn for the worse. youngsters with an independent turn of mind· People often go to him for advice about their problems.
· I entered the shop and switched off the alarm.
Don’t worry, it’ll turn out all right. (=not give permission for a decision to be changed)· The taxpayer's appeal was dismissed and the penalty upheld.
(=say no to an application)· Their planning application was rejected because of a lack of parking facilities.
All her hopes and dreams had turned to ashes. (=ask them to help)· The elderly sometimes have no one to turn to for assistance.
· She quickly put away the shopping and then turned her attention to preparing dinner.
Sure enough, Steve turned up like the proverbial bad penny (=suddenly appeared). The president’s fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve). The children were doing cartwheels in the park. (=the time when one century ends and another begins)· The town was expanding at the turn of the century.
(=not accept or use an opportunity)· Imagine throwing up a chance to go to America!
(=use your charm to get something)· If you turn on the charm, I’m sure you’ll get the job.
(=become cold, especially suddenly)· The birds fly south before the weather turns cold.
After a while, the conversation turned to a friend’s coming wedding. (=go around a corner)· I walked on and turned the corner into Church Road.
(=start committing crimes)· Youngsters who are bored sometimes turn to crime.
The boy blushed crimson. I got a shock when he just turned up on the doorstep.· I fastened my seat belt and turned on the engine.
· Maggie pulled over and switched off the engine.
· Take the next exit, junction 15.
(=becomes red)· His face went red with embarrassment.
(=becomes pale)· I saw her face go pale when he walked in.
She was a tall thin woman who had gone grey early.· John turned his head to look at the boy.
· Why don't you put the heating on if you're cold?
· We turn the heating off before bed.
· Can you turn the heating down a bit?
I always turn my jeans inside out to wash them. (also decline an invitation formal)· She turned down an invitation to take part in a televised debate.
· He climbed into his car and turned the key.
· We heard the key turn in the lock.
He thought the door was locked, but he turned the knob and the door opened.· Dorothy switched on the desk lamp.
· He switched off the lamp beside the bed.
(=become red, brown etc)· The maple leaves had turned a fiery red.
(=let something go free) Don’t let your dog loose on the beach.
Don’t let your dog loose on the beach.· Turn the machine on and slowly add the hot liquid.
· Is the tape machine switched off?
events which took place at the turn of the last millennium (=leave the motorway)· We forgot to turn off the motorway and ended up in London.
The boiled vegetables had turned to mush. especially British English (=suddenly start behaving in a threatening way) When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists.
When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists. The weather turned nasty towards the evening.· Their honeymoon turned into a nightmare when they were involved in a car accident.
(=one that curves up at the end)· She had big eyes and a turned-up nose.
(=say no to it)· She declined the offer of a lift.
· I turned the page in order to find out what happened next.
· Turn to page 8 for more details.
He suddenly went pale. (=give a performance)· Both actors turn in great performances.· In the role of Carmen, Ms Leblanc delivered a quite exquisite performance.
(=skilfully invented or chosen)· She creates lifelike characters with a few well-turned phrases.
What if the car you buy turns out to be a pig in a poke? Iago’s lie is the pivot on which the play turns. (=take everything out of your pockets in order to find something)· His mother made him turn out his pockets.
(=be or happen at a particular time in the development of something)· The day of the accident marked a turning point in Kenny’s life.
(=the time when an important change starts, especially an improvement)· A turning point in the history of the republic came in 1358.
Most young talented players are determined to turn pro. (=make a profit)· Without the liquor sales, the store could not turn a profit.
His face turned purple with rage.· Dad switched on the radio for the eight-thirty news.
· You can turn the radio off, darling, we're not listening to it.
(=make it quieter or louder)· Can you turn your radio down a bit?
Every time you mention his name, she goes bright red.· Initially, his resignation was rejected.· He offered his resignation but it was turned down by the prime minister.
Eileen blushed scarlet at the joke. Lana turned a somersault in midair. (=become sour)
As time went by, their marriage turned sour. A new report has turned the spotlight on the problem of poverty in the inner cities.· Run some cold water into the bath before turning on the hot tap.
· I forgot to turn the tap off.
· I switched off the television and went to bed.
(=make it louder or quieter)· Rory had turned the television up so loud that the people next door complained.
(=used to say what happened or was discovered in the end)· Obviously, there had to be some mistake. As things turned out, there was.
(=they start thinking about something)· As summer approaches, people’s thoughts turn to holidays.
(=starts coming in or going out)· Soon, the tide would turn and the waves would begin to creep inshore again.
a politician who turned traitor (=became a traitor) to the government (=to have sex with someone for money)
He made a quick U-turn and sped away. Critics accused the government of doing a U-turn on its promise to increase education spending. Can you turn the volume up? (=turn a tap to stop water coming out of pipes or to let it come out)· Turn the water off while you're brushing your teeth.
(=changes)· The weather had turned mild.
· The wheels went slowly around.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· The films were split into the 12 showing right turns and the 12 showing left turns.· A U-turn in Moscow is even more illegal than a left turn.· Ignore right turn just before church and ignore left turn 1/2 mile later.· There was a sharp left turn at the bottom into Ruskin Road.· The division of the stimuli into right and left turns demonstrated separate positive and negative relationships between risk and recognition sensitivity.· I tried going back but I kept getting to corners and not knowing whether to take the left turn or the right.· They noticed the car run wide as the defendant made a left turn and the officers decided to stop the vehicle.
· I executed a hard right turn, but could not see any other aircraft in my vicinity.· We made a rocky, wet entry, and then took a sharp right turn along a wall.· The films were split into the 12 showing right turns and the 12 showing left turns.· Ignore right turn just before church and ignore left turn 1/2 mile later.· Proceed to the top and take a right turn into Barracks Lane.· Lower Bowland was starting to get further away, and there was still no sign of a right turn.· Up at the top there was a right turn, but he went on.
· The control tower staff saw the aircraft making a sharp left-hand climbing turn before it disappeared into thick low cloud.· The road made a last sharp turn and ran straight west along the shoreline into Angle Inlet.· A sharp turn to the south east took us past St Ives, and up a massive sand-filled estuary towards Hayle.· After a sharp turn in the path, they are suddenly approaching a faint square of light.· There was a sharp left turn at the bottom into Ruskin Road.· His feet and hands kept striking stone corners, sharp turns, and massive columns difficult to circumvent.· Ro and Brent do the carrying, negotiating sharp turns in the stairwell.
· I took a wrong turn out of town.· He took a wrong turn in his life, he concludes.· Their chances of survival vanished the moment they stumbled into the procession; one wrong turn and that was it.· There even have been reports that he took a wrong turn to get there.· How cruel to reflect upon the wrong turns and unsought circumstances of an unlucky life.· We haven't taken one wrong turn or had one row since getting in.
VERB· In other collaborative activities individuals take turns in sitting vigilantly alert while others feed, thereby functioning as watchdogs or guards.· They stood side by side, taking turns.· Perhaps as a result of his unpopularity, speculation about him has taken a new turn.· We took turns at being the hunter and the hunted.· Let us take these in turn.· As Richard grows up and Joan perseveres, their relationship takes subtle turns.· They took turns with a champagne bottle.· Resler and I took turns flying low level down the road, seeing who could hold the ship in the turns.
· Everyone had to wait their turn or be punished by filling in a long complicated questionnaire two hundred and sixteen times.· Jelani had to wait his turn.· Inside, he picked up a magazine and waited his turn.· Wearing red overalls, the princess laughed and chatted to other drivers while she waited her turn.· Men line up in the yard, smoking and passing around flasks and bottles while they wait their turn inside.· Goibniu would have to wait his turn.· In one corner of the improvised surgery lay four other forms on stretchers, waiting their turn.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► one good turn deserves anotherPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody would turn in their grave► not turn a hair► not do a hand’s turn► turn a room/building etc inside out► feel like/turn to jelly► turn King’s evidence► go/turn over something in your mind► turn up like a bad penny► turn/beat swords into ploughshares► poacher turned gamekeeper► turn Queen’s evidence► turn/beat swords into ploughshares► a turn-up for the book(s)► set the wheels in motion/set the wheels turning► the worm turns
- By the turn of the century, a unique international generation of women had arrived at senior status.
- For many of us the turn of the century was only a few months ago.
- From 1859 until the turn of the century the system worked wonderfully.
- Nevertheless they were considerably more evangelical at the turn of the century than they are now.
- People have been peddling phony weight-loss elixirs since before the turn of the century.
- She was born before the turn of the century, so it is likely that her parents had been born into slavery.
- Their catalogues contain fewer items, but the range of publications is wider than at the turn of the century.
- This 1935 measure derived from the widows' pensions, which states had enacted at the turn of the century.
- Government officials demanded bribes from us at every turn.
- Above: the craggy coastline offers new treasures at every turn.
- Emboldened by their mandate from the voters, the parties challenged de Gaulle at every turn.
- Everyone wants to define this free spirit of music, and at every turn the 26-year-old DiFranco rebuffs.
- He relentlessly shadowed Michael from the start, harrying the Ferrari at every turn.
- She had to be particularly vigilant when it came to the large amounts of water threatening them at every turn.
- The latter we were born into, but at every turn we exile ourselves from our own Eden.
- There Amelia was, an intensely ambitious woman without any professional training, blocked at every turn.
- She had been by turns confused, angry, and finally jealous.
- And her listener feels both protective and irritated by turns.
- Bedford is by turns hilarious and ironic in the best sense: compassionate and yet clear-eyed.
- Beneath her external calm, she raged and felt frightened by turns.
- For the conductors, the process is by turns exciting and exhausting, agonizing and enlightening.
- I felt myself growing shy and scared by turns.
- She is both ingenuous and sophisticated by turns.
- The script is terrible, the acting by turns melodramatic and wooden, the direction confused.
- Yes, so catlike, owlish, aggressive and passive, hostile and amicable by turns.
- For most of us, however, these are all metaphors, turns of phrase.
- He had a happy turn of phrase.
- He was a slow-talking Mississippian with a penchant for the rustic turn of phrase and a gift for storytelling.
- His brilliant turns of phrase, his dark, brooding eyes tempted me.
- It demands complicated puns, archaic semantic associations, and other comic turns of phrase.
- It was his habitual turn of phrase.
- Kant was not noted for his turn of phrase-his style was usually a plodding one.
- Sorry, an unfortunate turn of phrase, but maybe not so inaccurate.
- I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, but I don't think this is the best way to proceed.
- Also this week: Ben and Mandy talk out of turn while Luke is listening.
- Captain Steve Waugh had sharp words with Buchanan, telling him he had spoken out of turn.
- He enjoys talking out of turn.
- She was only trying to do James a good turn.
- He is a very intelligent man with a scientific turn of mind.
- Certainly there were Gallo-Romans of an independent turn of mind in the south.
- She was a plain girl, with straight hair and thin limbs and a mathematical turn of mind.
- Very often students' inventive turn of mind can be useful at such formats, and they will largely be absent.
- As the right leg is lifted on the turn, it should remain high and close to the body.
- Flo was denied a hat-trick when Austin McCann headed his shot on the turn off the line.
- Headlight controls are on the turn signal stalk, wiper controls on another stalk to the right of the steering wheel.
- In the passage she encountered the man who always smelt of meat on the turn.
- No wonder they reckon the beer's on the turn in here.
- Now they hope their luck is finally on the turn.
- The river black, flat, wide on the turn, and solid as a road.
- The tide was high but on the turn, lapping sluggishly against the rocks at the river's edge.
- Although the kangaroo has a fast turn of speed on the plan, he is handicapped when climbing trees.
- He is a top goalkicker, has a good turn of speed and is an excellent all-round performer.
- It has a daunting and sinister turn of speed.
- It looked as though it was capable of a fair turn of speed, anyway.
- Rodber has huge potential, however, a great physique, a fair turn of speed and good hands.
- They were capable of a good turn of speed on the straight stretch between South Croydon and Purley.
- Tonson's printer and Purcell himself put on an extra turn of speed in case.
- Mandy and Debbie took it in turns to look after the baby.
- Small children find it almost impossible to take turns.
- We take turns doing the dishes.
- You'll have to take turns on the swing.
- And in every block the women took turns to watch the street.
- Danskin and Smitty took turns behind the wheel and they became more tense as the day passed.
- Dozens of men and boys take turns trading shots with him.
- I asked them to take turns talking about the pictures.
- So, instead, they used a large puppet and two actors who take turns dressing as the chimpanzee.
- They take turns coming back on weekends to run it.
- We arranged that we should take turns to cook for whomsoever was on the same watch.
- Then the interviewer asked what needed to be done to turn things around.
- Hutson and Wright took turns on a machine gun.
- I said I never had to take turns in my old house with my mum and my dad.
- I took a turn on a rope slide and had to sit on a tractor tyre on the way down.
- In other collaborative activities individuals take turns in sitting vigilantly alert while others feed, thereby functioning as watchdogs or guards.
- In the teaching of the principles of group discussion, every member of the group should take turns in leading the discussion.
- Kelly took a turn in law school, then left academics and Pittsburgh behind.
- This year there is no such urgency that could save feds and retirees from taking a turn on the chopping block.
- When word slipped out that the governor would be taking a turn on stage, snickers abounded in the capital.
- A second glance put my mind to rest, but for a moment there it gave me a turn.
- Facilitators at corners play crossing guards, giving directions for turning.
- Higher ratio power steering gives tighter turns, but the tendency to slight wanderings on the straight is still there.
- Nero sends his luv, you know he's coming over here to give us a turn this winter.
- This gives everybody a turn at catching.
- Thus at this imaginary point A they give up, turn around, and go home.
- We have ten Free Curl Combi stylers to give away - turn to page 54 for details.
- As we have seen, both the market and public policy have turned against work.
- At some point Solveig must have turned out the light.
- Even Sandie looks as if she might have turned the corner.
- He says that they could have turned the company around. he feels they've been treated in a shabby way.
- In a structural sense we have turned our model on its side.
- In recent weeks, even his friends seemed to have turned against him.
- Logic machines have turned out to be poor at dealing with images and making analogies.
- This day with me, here, you have turned back to face your past.
- I was hard on my eldest son, and he, in turn, was mean to his little brother.
- The President spoke to each of us at the table in turn.
- We distribute the book to charities, and those organization in turn give the books to needy children.
- Working outside can mean too much sun exposure, which in turn can lead to skin cancer.
- The extra time was turned to good account.
- First and foremost, Borland have taken the Windows interface and used it to good advantage.
- Homeloans are one of the cheapest ways of borrowing money - find out how to use them to your advantage.
- If you would like to reassess your life and learn how to use stress to your advantage, come along.
- Parents may feel suspicious of these, or resentful, and will need help in using them to best advantage.
- Professionals need to be aware of such things and use them to good advantage.
- Ronald Reagan turned it into an art form.
- To avoid simultaneous borrowing and depositing you should monitor how accurate your forecasting is, without turning this into an art form.
- Once, despite the age requirement, my sister charms her way on to this ride while my back is turned.
- Many landlords turn a blind eye to the fact that two families are sharing apartments.
- Automakers say that in their zeal to promote airbags, regulators turned a blind eye to evidence of hazards.
- But the police turn a blind eye to the lawbreaking.
- Directors know this is going on and turn a blind eye.
- He would prefer to turn a blind eye to the problem of asylum seekers around the world.
- Rugby, whose spectators are a fairly respectable lot, turns a blind eye to fighting on the field.
- The best the authorities could do was turn a blind eye.
- The staff knew what was going on but they turned a blind eye.
- They just had to put up with it and turn a blind eye.
- It's hard to turn the other cheek when someone insults you.
- Anyway, all I can remember is something about turning the other cheek which I don't believe in.
- Maintaining our resolve for peace does not mean, however, turning the other cheek.
- No bottling up for me; no turning the other cheek for Walt.
- Peregrine responded by turning the other cheek.
- If I could turn the clock back, I don't think I'd study law again.
- It would be nice to put the clock back to the years when Mum and Dad were still alive.
- He thinks you can turn the clock back.
- It was almost like turning the clock back a couple of centuries.
- Not unless they fell into Morton's hands. Turn the clock back.
- Or not lie, maybe. Turn the clock back.
- The most important thing now is not to turn the clock back.
- This great divide can not be bridged by turning the clock back.
- We can not turn the clock back.
- What is past is past and you can not turn the clock back.
- A superior actor might have turned the corner on this film.
- He faced Main Street, where a black hearse turned the corner.
- He turned the corner toward home and heard the familiar, booming bark from the garage.
- I ran on down the road and when I turned the corner I was at the shops.
- I thought by January we would turn the corner.
- I watched him until he turned the corner.
- Their car had hardly turned the corner when the mob arrived and smashed the house to pieces.
- Willie caught sight of them as he turned the corner.
- She wouldn't be keeping the Law if she turned a deaf ear to the call or ran away from it.
- The race committee turned a deaf ear to the objections of Amelia and the other fliers.
- They may display their feelings by refusing to eat, and turning a deaf ear to anyone who calls their name.
- Thus, year after year, working people turn a deaf ear to union entreaties.
- A manufacturer of sun care products has just issued a report showing that the view on tanning has come full circle.
- Now his fortunes are poised to turn full circle again.
- Now the pattern has turned full circle.
- Only a classic endures, and sooner or later the fashion comes full circle.
- The neo-colonial wheel has almost come full circle.
- The wheel has turned full circle in the past 25 years.
- Thus the research has come full circle.
- Today, society has evolved and the wheel has come full circle.
- Adam Burns was probably good at everything he turned his hand to.
- Adult women could often turn their hand to more than one form of casual employment.
- Friday marks the start of a new music programme as Channel 4 turns its hand to dance.
- He has had to be able to turn his hand to almost anything.
- I have turned my hand to trying a bit of writing and I keep meaning to take it up again.
- Roth also turned his hand to poetry, his best-known volume being, as you no doubt guessed, his Shit Poems.
- She can also turn her hand to mending and spotting.
- She turned her hand to short stories, getting two published in the early 1990s.
- "You stand logic on its head when you use arms control as an argument for a larger defense budget," Aspin said.
- Another basic political problem here is that the Dole message turns history on its head.
- In fact, it would turn Beveridge on its head and use the national insurance system as a tax system.
- It turns time on its head.
- Many of these taboos derive from patriarchal societies taking the power of women and turning it on its head.
- Rather than ignore Philips's cherished necessity principle, the Government turned it on its head.
- Resist that temptation by turning it on its head.
- That, of course, is to stand reality on its head, since the industrialised nations are manifestly the real environmental villains.
- The next step was to turn reality on its head.
- Seifert turned on his heels and stomped away in anger.
- Cooper turned on his heels and walked away.
- He turned on his heel and went into the dining room.
- I turned on my heel and left the room.
- She turned on her heel and vanished into the murk.
- Suddenly, the boar had been faced with a cliff too steep to climb and had turned on its heel.
- Then she turned on her heel and we marched back down the hall.
- Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and left the room.
- Saints twisted the knife with a glorious try from Tony Sullivan, set up by Gary Connolly.
- The tragedy is that you have to twist the knife in your own gray matter to make this defense work.
- After being released from jail, Tony decided to turn over a new leaf.
- I know I've done some bad things in the past, but now I'm turning over a new leaf.
- Faldo, perhaps above all, will be hoping to turn over a new leaf.
- Like all fathers, I see fatherhood as a chance to turn over a new leaf.
- Monnett agrees too, so much that he has turned over a new leaf.
- There is no indication that Hollywood is turning over a new leaf, free of bloodstains.
- We urge them to turn over a new leaf.
- A second glance put my mind to rest, but for a moment there it gave me a turn.
- Across the table, Lalage put her mind to the subjugation of Dada.
- Anybody could do what I do if they put their mind to it.
- But he can turn his mind to detailed needs, like pensions, if he has to.
- He would put his mind to other issues, one of which was sobering in its own right.
- I turned my mind to Archie.
- Whatever you set your mind to, your personal total obsession, this is what kills you.
- When Medea knew the deed was done she turned her mind to one still more dreadful.
- All this quickness of mind, all her decisiveness had turned to mush when Mac came on the scene.
- Many professors turn their noses up at television.
- Time and again he had to turn his nose up into the arch of the drain to keep from drowning.
- Wagner spoke out of turn when he said the election would be delayed.
- Captain Steve Waugh had sharp words with Buchanan, telling him he had spoken out of turn.
- If both turn state's evidence, the five-year rule applies.
- The sight of the dead body turned his stomach.
- The strike has meant piles of rotting garbage in the streets. "It's enough to turn your stomach," said one resident.
- And the rich, savoury smell of the hare drifted down to meet her, turning her stomach.
- I don't know anything about art, but I know what turns my stomach.
- It was in the air, all right, a stink that turned his stomach.
- Her record speed has turned the tables on Runyan, the defending champion.
- Antony has turned the tables completely and has now completely destroyed all hopes of the conspirators ever establishing themselves in Rome.
- Especially when such a rider turns the tables.
- Glenn Hoddle reckons Town are a good bet to turn the tables.
- Isn't it nice to see a couple turning the tables on a double-glazing salesman?
- It's time to turn the tables.
- So much for turning the tables.
- That turns the tables on movie ratings.
- That would certainly turn the tables, Blue thinks, that would certainly stand the whole business on its head.
- He caught sight of a few others, but they turned tail and vanished when they saw him through the mist.
- If one animal suddenly turns tail, it is liable to be attacked and might get injured.
- She wanted to turn tail and run, but she couldn't have stood herself if she appeared such a coward.
- Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, or do you toss and turn for hours before dropping off?
- She had slept badly, tossing and turning before falling into a fitful doze.
- If your tossing and turning is taking up needed sleep time, insomnia may be the culprit.
- Recurring thoughts about her conversation with Philippe Fontaine had kept her tossing and turning most of the night.
- She had slept badly, tossing and turning in the heat though the room had been cool enough.
- This, and the sound of heavy machinery passing underneath the window, kept me tossing and turning.
- And a dream come true ... The advert for grandparents that came up trumps.
- Conrad Allen came up trumps again, finishing fourth in the boys 800 metres in a personal best 2 mins. 22.
- Ibanez seem to have taken another daring step in their continuing success story and come up trumps once again.
- In part two: Four of a kind ... Durnin plays the winning hand as United come up trumps against Luton.
- You've come up trumps, Derek.
- Had the tortoise turned turtle in some sulphurous cul-de-sac?
- And the sporty model, with its bigger tires, felt better in highway twists and turns than its richer sibling.
- But the journey of life has many twists and turns.
- Despite many bridges, viaducts, embankments, cuttings and tunnels the lines twist and turn in detours around the hills.
- First, in high winds the building could twist and turn and pull sections of the walls or windows apart.
- Or by the twists and turns of all that is buried in the human heart.
- Pros: Lots of pyrotechnics and effects, plenty of twists and turns that keep you hanging on.
- She'd twist and turn, she'd fold herself double, she'd cry out.
- The roller-coaster ride of the successful entrepreneur has many such twists and turns.
- A distorted religion has turned the world upside down, denying that anything ever existed before itself.
- I turn the box upside down and bring it out empty.
- The girl was turning everything upside down.
- The history of implants has been equally painful; implants can shift or turn themselves upside down.
- They studied the map for a while, scratched their heads, turned it upside down and studied it some more.
- We could turn the glass upside down and sideways without having the water pour out because air pressure pushes in all directions.
- Yet with an appealing brew of nationalism and promise of democratic reform, Kostunica has since turned Yugoslav politics upside down.
- A long line of people waited their turn to shake his hand.
- Everyone has to wait their turn.
- Everyone had to wait their turn or be punished by filling in a long complicated questionnaire two hundred and sixteen times.
- Goibniu would have to wait his turn.
- In one corner of the improvised surgery lay four other forms on stretchers, waiting their turn.
- Inside, he picked up a magazine and waited his turn.
- It is unnecessarily unnerving to be waiting your turn while potential workmates eye you up and down.
- Jelani had to wait his turn.
- Men line up in the yard, smoking and passing around flasks and bottles while they wait their turn inside.
- Wearing red overalls, the princess laughed and chatted to other drivers while she waited her turn.
- She was one of those people who could turn on the waterworks in order to get what they want.
- Before Reagan turned on the waterworks, crying in public was widely considered a sign of weakness.
- Stock prices have taken a turn for the worse.
WORD FAMILYnounturnupturnturningverbturnoverturnadjectiveupturned
1chance to do something [countable] the time when it is your chance, duty, or right to do something that each person in a group is doing one after the other SYN go British Englishturn to do something Whose turn is it to set the table? It’s your turn. Roll the dice. I think it’s our turn to drive the kids to school this week.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say that it is someone’s go in a game rather than turn:· Whose go is it now?· Wait until it’s your go.2take turns (also take it in turns) British English if two or more people take turns doing work, using something etc, they do it one after the other, for example in order to share the work or play fairly: You’ll have to take turns on the swing.take turns doing something The students were taking turns reading aloud.take turns in doing something British English We took turns in pushing the bike along.take turns to do something Dan and I usually take turns to cook.3in turn a)as a result of something: Interest rates were cut and, in turn, share prices rose. b)one after the other, especially in a particular order: Each of us in turn had to describe how alcohol had affected our lives.4road [countable] a)American English a place where one road goes in a different direction from the one you are on SYN turning British English: According to the map we missed our turn back there.take the first/a wrong etc turn (=go along the first etc road) I think we took a wrong turn coming out of town. Take the second turn on the left. b)a curve in a road, path etc: There’s a sharp turn coming up ahead.5change direction [countable] a change in the direction you are movingmake a left/right turn Make a left turn at the station.6change in events [countable] a sudden or unexpected change that makes a situation develop in a different waytake a dramatic/fresh/different etc turn From then on, our fortunes took a downward turn. My career had already taken a new turn. The president was stunned by the sudden turn of events.take a turn for the worse/better Two days after the operation, Dad took a turn for the worse.7the turn of the century/year the beginning of a new century or year: the short period from the turn of the century until World War One8at every turn happening again and again, especially in an annoying way: problems that presented themselves at every turn9act of turning something [countable] the act of turning something completely around a fixed point: I gave the screw another two or three turns.10by turns changing from one quality, feeling etc to another: By turns, a 14 year old is affectionate then aggressive, silent then outspoken.11turn of phrase a)the ability to say things in a clever or funny way: Kate has a colourful turn of phrase. b)a particular way of saying something SYN expression: What a strange turn of phrase!12speak/talk out of turn to say something you should not say in a particular situation, especially because you do not have enough authority to say it: I’m sorry if I spoke out of turn, Major Karr.13do somebody a good/bad turn to do something that is helpful or unhelpful for someone: You did me a good turn by driving Max home last night.14one good turn deserves another used to say that if someone does something nice for you, you should do something nice for them15turn of mind the particular way that someone usually thinks or feelsan academic/practical etc turn of mind youngsters with an independent turn of mind16on the turn British English a)if the tide is on the turn, the sea is starting to come in or go out b)starting to change, or in the process of changing: Hopefully my luck was on the turn. c)if milk, fish, or other food is on the turn, it is no longer fresh17turn of speed British English a sudden increase in your speed, or the ability to increase your speed suddenly: He’s a top goalkicker with a surprising turn of speed.18be done to a turn British English to be perfectly cooked19take a turn in/on etc something old-fashioned to walk somewhere for pleasure20give somebody a turn old-fashioned to frighten someone21have a turn British English old-fashioned to feel slightly ill