the worm turns

the worm has turned

A person or group of people is retaliating or refusing to put up with agitation or mistreatment. With the dictator in hiding and the oppressed population taking control, it seems that the worm has turned. I used to get awful verbal abuse from my last boss, but the worm has turned and now I'm starting up my own rival company.See also: turn, worm

the worm turns

Even quiet, submissive people will get angry if you continually agitate them. Sweet little Janine is going to snap at you if you keep bugging her—the worm turns.See also: turn, worm

worm turns, the

Also, the worm has turned. Even a very tolerant person will one day lose patience. For example, He bullied his assistant for years, but one day the worm turned and he walked out without notice, taking along his best clients . This expression comes from the proverb Tread on a worm and it will turn, first recorded in John Heywood's 1546 collection. See also: worm

the ˌworm ˈturns

(informal) even a patient, calm person will get angry if they are repeatedly badly treated: He’s often rude to his secretary and she doesn’t say anything — but one day the worm will turn.See also: turn, worm

worm turns, the

The loser becomes a winner. The expression comes from an old proverb, tread on a worm and it will turn, meaning that the lowliest individual will resent being treated badly. It appeared in John Heywood’s 1546 proverb collection and was repeated by Shakespeare. Robert Browning used it in Mr. Sludge (1864): “Tread on a worm, it turns, sir! If I turn, Your fault!” See also: worm