A-Z Database
As in a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or the like, dates from the late 18th century. Turn as in a stage or variety act e.g. a star turn, dates...
To turn a blind eye means to ignore something deliberately as if it was not there and dates from the early 19th century. It is generally acknowledged...
Most commonly expressed in the negative i.e. did not turn a hair or without turning a hair and means to remain calm and unruffled. This figurative use...
American euphemism for a prostitute plying her trade, dates from the early 20th century.
Turn in this sense means a change for the better or worse, and dates from the early 1600s.
To go to bed, originally nautical and related to sailors’ hammocks, dates from the late 17th century. Turn oneself in (to the police or authorities) d...
To turn King’s or Queen’s evidence is to appear as a witness for the prosecution against one’s criminal accomplices. As a legal term, it dates from th...
see Molehills into mountains
Turn in this sense means an increase in speed or pace, and dates from the early 1700s.
To turn someone on or a turn-on, as in being excited, stimulated, or sexually aroused, is an Americanism that derives from the notion of turning on an...
A euphemism for to die and is recorded in the Bible in Kings II 20:2 “Then he turned his face to wall” and again in Isaiah 38:2.
see Toes-up
To turn over a new leaf means to mend one’s ways and dates from the late 16th century. It uses the act of turning to a new leaf or page in a book as a...
see Swords into ploughshares
To flee or run away, dates from the late 16th century.