Turn turtle

Meaning

The idiom "turn turtle" means to overturn or upset something, typically a person's plans or expectations. It can also mean to change one's mind or perspective about something. The figurative meaning of the idiom is to cause chaos or disarray in a situation.

Usage

• "The unexpected turn of events completely turned turtle their plans."
• "She had been so confident, but the new information turned turtle her perspective on the issue."
• "The sudden change in direction turned turtle their project timeline."
• "The unexpected revelation turned turtle their previous assumptions about the situation."
• "The conflict between the two teams turned turtle the entire meeting."

Roots and History

The earliest known use of the idiom dates back to the 16th century, where it was used to describe a ship that had capsized or flipped over in the water. Over time, the idiom evolved to refer to any situation that was disrupted or upset. In the 20th century, the figurative meaning of the idiom emerged as a way to describe a change in circumstances that caused chaos or confusion.

Synonyms in English

• Upend
• Overturn
• Turn over
• Flip
• Upset

Synonyms in other languages

• 翻譯 (Fànhuì) - Chinese translation meaning to flip or reverse
• 積倒する (Kabukusuru) - Japanese translation meaning to turn over or flip
• 撞起 (Jiāngkù) - Korean translation meaning to overturn or upset
• تبديل (Tbadil) - Arabic translation meaning to change or alter
• بنيه الشمس (Baninashams) - Arabic translation meaning to turn the sun upside down, used figuratively to describe a significant event that changes everything.

Similar Idioms

• all bark and no bite

• a cat may look at a king

• bell the cat