idiom · neutral
take a turn for the worse
UK/teɪk ə tɜːn fɔː ðə wɜːs/US/teɪk ə tɜrn fɔr ðə wɜrs/take·a·TURN·for·the·WORSE
to become worse, especially suddenly (often about health)
Examples
“The patient's breathing took a turn for the worse overnight.”
“Her recovery seemed steady until she suddenly took a turn for the worse.”
“If his condition takes a turn for the worse we will move him to intensive care.”
Band 8 sentence
“Although he'd seemed stable, his condition suddenly took a turn for the worse overnight.”
Collocations
- take a sudden turn for the worse
- take a turn for the worse overnight
Word family
Common mistakes
take turn for worse→take a turn for the worse
take a turn to worse→take a turn for the worse
Say it for a higher band
5get worse→6deteriorate→7+take a turn for the worse
Synonyms
deteriorate
Easily confused
take a turn for the better
“After the new medication he took a turn for the better and was discharged.”
Related words
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In Health
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