turn …

20 words

1. 1

   turn downphrasal verb/tɜːn daʊn/

   to refuse or reject an offer, invitation, or request

   “I had to turn down the internship because it clashed with my exams.”

2. 2

   turn the other cheekidiom / phrasal verb/tɜːn ði ˈʌðə ʧiːk/

   to accept an insult or injury without retaliating; to respond to wrongdoing with patience rather than revenge

   “He chose to turn the other cheek rather than start a fight.”

3. 3

   not turn a hairidiom / phrasal expression/nɒt tɜːn ə heə(r)/

   to show no surprise, worry, or emotion when something happens

   “Even when accused, she did not turn a hair.”

4. 4

   turn upphrasal verb/tɜːn ʌp/

   to appear or arrive unexpectedly; to increase volume; to be discovered

   “He didn't turn up for the interview.”

5. 5

   turn a phraseidiom / verb phrase/tɜːn ə freɪz/

   to express something in a particularly effective, clever, or memorable way

   “The speechwriter can really turn a phrase; every paragraph sounded vivid.”

6. 6

   turn one's nose up atphrasal verb/tɜːn wʌnz nəʊz ʌp æt/

   to show contempt for something; to refuse something because you consider it inferior or unfashionable

   “Many affluent customers turn their noses up at local brands and prefer imports.”

7. 7

   turn outphrasal verb/tɜːn aʊt/

   to happen in a particular way, especially in a surprising way; to result; to assemble or attend

   “It turned out that he had already left the country.”

8. 8

   turn offphrasal verb/tɜːn ɒf/

   to switch something off; to make someone lose interest or feel disgusted

   “Please turn off the lights when you leave.”

9. 9

   turn intophrasal verb/tɜːn ˈɪntuː/

   to change or develop into something different

   “Over time the old factory turned into apartments.”

10. 10

    turn over in one's graveidiom / phrasal verb/tɜːn ˈəʊvə ɪn wʌnz ɡreɪv/

    used to say that someone who has died would be shocked or upset by something that is happening now

    “If my grandfather saw the state of the old factory, he'd turn over in his grave.”

11. 11

    turn awayphrasal verb/tɜːn əˈweɪ/

    to refuse someone entry or help; to cause someone to leave; to turn one's face away

    “The shelter had to turn away several families because it was full.”

12. 12

    turn on a dimeidiom / phrasal verb/tɜːn ɒn ə daɪm/

    to change direction or attitude very quickly and suddenly

    “Public opinion can turn on a dime after a scandal.”

13. 13

    turn sourphrasal verb/tɜːn ˈsaʊə/

    to go bad (food) or for a relationship/plan to deteriorate

    “The milk turned sour after a day in the heat.”

14. 14

    turn loosephrasal verb/tɜːn luːs/

    to set free; to let someone go; to allow something to happen uncontrolled

    “The police turned the suspect loose after questioning him.”

15. 15

    turn one's hand tophrasal verb/tɜːn wʌnz hænd tuː/

    to try doing different kinds of work or tasks; to be able to do many different things

    “Since retiring he has turned his hand to gardening, painting and carpentry.”

16. 16

    turn up trumpsidiom / phrasal verb/tɜːn ʌp trʌmps/

    to produce a successful or unexpected good result

    “We feared the plan would fail, but it turned up trumps.”

17. 17

    turn asidephrasal verb/tɜːn əˈsaɪd/

    to move your face/body away or to refuse/avoid something

    “She turned aside when the camera approached.”

18. 18

    turn the screwphrasal verb / idiom/tɜːn ðə skruː/

    to increase pressure or make conditions harder in order to force someone to act or comply

    “The government turned the screw on polluters by introducing much harsher fines.”

19. 19

    turn tail (and run)phrasal verb / idiom/tɜːn teɪl ænd rʌn/

    to run away quickly, especially out of fear or because one is defeated

    “When the alarms sounded, the looters turned tail and ran.”

20. 20

    turn uponphrasal verb/tɜːn əˈpɒn/

    to attack or criticize someone suddenly (often literary/formal)

    “The evidence turned public opinion upon the corporation.”