phrasal verb · neutral
turn one's back on
UK/tɜːn wʌnz bæk ɒn/US/tɜrn wʌnz bæk ɑn/BACK
speakingtask2
to stop supporting someone or to deliberately ignore someone who needs help
Examples
“The company turned its back on the local community after the merger.”
“Many voters felt their representatives had turned their backs on them.”
“You shouldn't turn your back on a friend in need.”
Band 8 sentence
“Many citizens felt betrayed when their elected leaders turned their backs on years of campaign promises.”
Collocations
- turn one's back on + someone/something
- turn one's back on the community
Word family
turn verbturned / turning verb
Common mistakes
turn back→turn one's back on
turned their back to him→turned their back on him
Say it for a higher band
5ignore→6abandon→7+turn one's back on
Synonyms
abandon
ignore
Easily confused
turn away
“The shelter had to turn away many refugees because it was full.”
Related words
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