turn over
phrasal verb·4 senses·particle over
Meanings
Rotate so that the other side faces up
Why “over”? The top moves to the bottom. The object turns over.
“Turn the page over.”
“Turn the card over to see the answer.”
“Turn the pancake over carefully.”
Hand a person or thing to authorities
Why “over”? Something moves from one person or side to another.
“He turned the suspect over to police.”
“The guard turned the phone over to police.”
“He turned the case over to a colleague.”
(of a business) generate a particular amount of revenue
Why “over”? You go over the same thing again to review it or do it again.
“The shop turns over a million a year.”
“The cafe turns over thousands each week.”
(of an engine) start running
“The engine wouldn't turn over.”
“The old engine would not turn over.”
Don't confuse with
Turn over means rotate so that the other side faces up. Turn off means deactivate a device.
Test yourself
“Turn the page over.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
turn off
A contrast learners often mix up
Deactivate a device
boil over
Same over pattern: flip
(of liquid) overflow while boiling
bowl over
Same over pattern: flip
Knock down or astonish completely
bring over
Same over pattern: transfer
Carry someone or something to a place near where the speaker is
brood over
Same over pattern: again
Think anxiously or moodily about something for a long time
call over
Same over pattern: transfer
Summon someone to come to where you are
carry over
Same over pattern: transfer
Continue from one period or place into the next
check over
Same over pattern: again
Examine something carefully to look for errors or faults
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