A-Z Database
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.
To turn the corner is to pass through some difficulty and get into a stronger, safer position and dates in this sense from the early 19th century. It...
This expression from the New Testament means to accept a wrongdoing without seeking retribution, in contrast with the eye for an eye spirit of the Old...
see Put the screws on