to suddenly do something completely different from what you were doing before
turn in on oneself
to withdraw or cause to withdraw from contact with others and become preoccupied with one's own problems
turn one's back on
to turn away from in anger or contempt
turn on one's heel
to turn around abruptly
turn on the charm
If someone turns on the charm , they behave in a way that seems very friendly but which you think is insincere , often in order to obtain something or deceive someone.
turn something on its head
to use the same facts of an argument or theory to produce a different or opposite conclusion
turn the screw on someone
to increase the pressure on someone to make them do what you want
turn the tables on someone
to do something to change a situation so that you gain an advantage over someone or cause them problems , following a time when they had the advantages or caused problems for you
turn your back on someone
to ignore someone and refuse to help them
turn your back on something
to stop thinking about something and paying attention to it, or to reject it
stand/turn sth on it's head
If you stand an idea or argument on its head or turn it on its head , you think about it or treat it in a completely new and different way.
to turn your back on sb/sth
If you turn your back on someone or something, you ignore them, leave them, or reject them.
turn up the heat on someone
to put pressure on a person or situation in order to get what you want
turn up the heat
to increase the intensity of activity, coercion , etc
to fall on deaf ears to turn a deaf ear
If a request falls on deaf ears or if the person to whom the request is made turns a deaf ear to it, they take no notice of it.
turn the screw(s) on someone to tighten the screw
If you turn or tighten the screw on someone, you increase the pressure which is already on them, for example by using threats , in order to force them to do a particular thing.
All related terms of 'turn on'
to turn on one's heel
急转(轉)身 jí zhuǎnshēn
turn the ignition on/off
开(開)/关(關)点(點)火装(裝)置 kāi/guān diǎnhuǒ zhuāngzhì
to turn the tables on sb
转(轉)而占(佔)了某人的上风(風) zhuǎn ér zhànle mǒurén de shàngfēng
to turn one's back on sb/sth
( fig ) 不理睬某人/某事 bù lǐcǎi mǒurén/mǒushì
to turn or switch the light on/off
开(開)/关(關)灯(燈) kāi/guān dēng
turn up
( arrive : person ) 露面 lòumiàn
turn to
( page ) 翻到 fāndào
turn round
( person, vehicle ) 调(調)转(轉) diàozhuǎn
turn over
( person ) 翻身 fānshēn
turn out
( light, gas ) 关(關)掉 guāndiào
turn off
( from road ) 拐弯(彎) guǎiwān
turn into
变(變)成 biànchéng ⇒ The water turns into steam. → 水变成了蒸汽。 Shuǐ biànchéngle zhēngqì.
turn in
( inf : go to bed ) 睡觉(覺) shuìjiào
turn down
( request, offer ) 拒绝(絕) jùjué
turn back
往回走 wǎnghuí zǒu
turn away
放弃(棄) fàngqì
turn around
= turn round
turn against
转(轉)而反对(對) zhuǎn ér fǎnduì
to turn or tighten the screw(s) on sb
( inf ) 对(對)某人增加压(壓)力 duì mǒurén zēngjiā yālì
turn on
1. phrasal verb
When you turn on a piece of equipment or a supply of something, you cause heat, sound, or water to be produced by adjusting the controls.
I want to turn on the television. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
She asked them why they hadn't turned the lights on. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
If someone or something turns you on, they attract you and make you feel sexually excited.
[informal]
Physical perfection doesn't tend to turn most people on. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
[Also VERBPARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
3. See also turn-on
4. phrasal verb
If you say that someone turns on a particular way of behaving, you mean that they suddenly start behaving in that way, and you are often also suggesting that this is insincere.
[informal]
He could also turn on the style when the occasion demanded. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
5. phrasal verb
If someone turns on you, they attack you or speak angrily to you.
Demonstrators turned on police, overturning vehicles and setting fire to them. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
He turned on Pete and accused him of being mixed up in crime. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
6. phrasal verb
If something turns on a particular thing, its success or truth depends on that thing.
The plot turns on an encounter with a boyhood friend. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
More Synonyms of turn on
See full dictionary entry for turn
turn-on
Word forms: plural turn-ons
countable noun [usually singular]
Something or someone that is a turn-on is sexually exciting.
[informal]
turn on in British English
verb
1. (tr, adverb)
to cause (something) to operate by turning a knob, etc
to turn on the light
2. (intr, preposition)
to depend or hinge on
the success of the party turns on you
3. (preposition)
to change or cause to change one's attitude so as to become hostile or to retaliate
the dog turned on the children
4. (tr, adverb) informal
to produce (charm, tears, etc) suddenly or automatically
5. (tr, preposition,; foll byto) informal
to interest (someone) in something
how to turn kids on to drama
6. (tr, adverb) slang
to arouse emotionally or sexually
7. (intr, adverb) slang
to take or become intoxicated by drugs
8. (tr, adverb) slang
to introduce (someone) to drugs
nounturn-on
9. slang
a person or thing that causes emotional or sexual arousal
turn on in American English
1.
a.
to start a flow of (water, gas, electricity, etc.)
b.
to open (a faucet, valve, etc.) so as to start a flow
c.
to make (an electrical device) start functioning by operating the controls
2.
to show or display suddenly or automatically
to turn on the charm
3. US, Slang
a.
to initiate in the use of a psychedelic drug
b.
to stimulate or be stimulated with or as with a psychedelic drug; make or become elated, euphoric, etc.
c.
to stimulate sexually
d.
to make interested, enthusiastic, etc.
See full dictionary entry for turn
turn-on in American English
(ˈtɜrnˌon)
noun
Slang
someone or something regarded as being interesting, exciting, arousing, etc.
Examples of 'turn on' in a sentence
turn on
Sometime after eight o'clock I forced myself to get up and turn on some lights.
Tapply, William G THE DUTCH BLUE ERROR
Sister Felicity's disillusioned fans would turn on her like avenging Furies.
West, Charles STAGE FRIGHT
As she passed through the hall she pressed the switches to turn on the outside lights.
Murray, Stephen DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION
Even a momentary lapse could cause them to turn on us like rabid dogs.
Lustbader, Eric FLOATING CITY (1994)
I want to see the play, too--it's a tremendous turn-on for me, to see you on stage.
West, Charles STAGE FRIGHT (2002)
In other languages
turn on
British English: turn on /tɜːn ɒn/ VERB
When you turn on a piece of equipment or a supply of something, you cause heat, sound, or water to be produced by adjusting the controls.
She asked them why they hadn't turned the lights on.