turn back
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle back
Meanings
Reverse to an earlier state
Why “back”? Something returns to an earlier state.
“You can't turn back the clock.”
“We cannot turn back the years, but we can learn from them.”
Don't confuse with
Turn back means reverse to an earlier state. Turn over means rotate so that the other side faces up.
Test yourself
“You can't turn back the clock.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
turn over
A contrast learners often mix up
Rotate so that the other side faces up; Hand a person or thing to authorities; (of a business) Receive a particular amount of money from sales; (of an engine) Start running
bounce back
Same back pattern: normal again
Become well, happy, or successful again after a problem
bring back
Same back pattern: normal again
Return with someone or something to the original place; Cause memories to return to the mind; Reintroduce a custom, law or product
come back
Same back pattern: normal again
Return to a place; Become popular or fashionable again; Be remembered after being forgotten
date back
Same back pattern: normal again
Have origins from an earlier time
get back
Same back pattern: normal again
Return to a place; Reply to someone, often with information they asked for; Take revenge on someone; Receive something again that you had before
look back
Same back pattern: normal again
Think about events in the past
reach back
Same back pattern: normal again
Extend memory or influence into the past
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