Turn back on

Meaning

The idiom "turn back on" means to reverse or undo a previous decision, action, or behavior. It can also refer to rejecting or refusing something, such as a request or proposal.

Usage

• She decided to turn back on her plan to move to the city and stay in her small town instead.
• After trying the new diet for a month, he turned back on it and went back to his old eating habits.
• The company had to turn back on its decision to lay off employees due to public outcry.
• She was hesitant at first, but eventually turned back on her decision to break up with her boyfriend.
• He turned back on the offer to buy his friend's house and decided to invest in a different property. The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. For example, it can be used in a positive or negative way to describe someone's behavior. It can also be used in a literal or figurative sense.

Roots and History

The idiom "turn back on" has been used since the 16th century. It comes from the Latin phrase "revertere," which means "to turn back." In the past, the phrase was used to refer specifically to turning back a river or reversing a direction of travel. Over time, the idiom expanded to include any kind of reversal or rejection.

Synonyms in English

• U-turn
• Reverse course
• Back off
• Change direction
• Go against

Synonyms in other languages

• French: changer de direction
• Spanish: volver a atrás
• Italian: tornare indietro
• German: umkehren
• Chinese: 回头 (huǎn tóu)

Similar Idioms

• the ball is in your court

• tit for tat

• those three little words