Collocations for turn - noun
1. act of turning sb/sth around
ADJECTIVE
complete,
full,
half,
quarter
It slowly spun for three complete turns.
a full turn of the handle to the right
It slowly spun for three complete turns.
a full turn of the handle to the right
90-degree,
180-degree,
etc.
quick
a quick turn of his head
quick
a quick turn of his head
slight
He quickly gives the handle a slight turn.
He quickly gives the handle a slight turn.
2. change of direction
ADJECTIVE
left,
left-hand,
right,
right-hand
abrupt, sharp, tight
Tinker makes the tight turns look easy.
abrupt, sharp, tight
Tinker makes the tight turns look easy.
wide
sudden
three-point (see also U-turn)
handbrake (BrE)
flip (AmE) (in swimming)
Every time she did a flip turn, she made a large splash.
sudden
three-point (see also U-turn)
handbrake (BrE)
flip (AmE) (in swimming)
Every time she did a flip turn, she made a large splash.
VERB + turn
do,
make,
negotiate
She stopped talking as she negotiated a particularly sharp turn.
She stopped talking as she negotiated a particularly sharp turn.
execute
Syd executed each turn perfectly.
Syd executed each turn perfectly.
PHRASES
at every turn
(figurative)
At every turn I met with disappointment.
At every turn I met with disappointment.
a turn to the left,
a turn to the right
He made a sudden turn to the right.
He made a sudden turn to the right.
twists and turns
(figurative)
It's impossible to follow all the twists and turns of the plot.
It's impossible to follow all the twists and turns of the plot.
3. (esp. AmE) bend/corner in a road
→ See also turning
ADJECTIVE
next
wrong
hairpin (AmE), tight
The car skidded around a hairpin turn.
There was a screech as the car rounded a tight turn.
wrong
hairpin (AmE), tight
The car skidded around a hairpin turn.
There was a screech as the car rounded a tight turn.
VERB + turn
make,
take
He took a wrong turn and ended up on the coast road.
He took a wrong turn and ended up on the coast road.
miss
approach, enter, round
Slow down as you enter the turn
approach, enter, round
Slow down as you enter the turn
PHRASES
a turn on the left,
a turn on the right
Take the next turn on the right.
Take the next turn on the right.
twists and turns
a road full of twists and turns
a road full of twists and turns
4. time when you must or may do sth
VERB + turn
have,
take
Can I have a turn?
I'll take a turn making the dinner—you have a rest.
The children took turns on the swing.
Can I have a turn?
I'll take a turn making the dinner—you have a rest.
The children took turns on the swing.
miss
If you can't put any cards down you have to miss a turn.
If you can't put any cards down you have to miss a turn.
give sb
Give Sarah a turn on the swing.
Give Sarah a turn on the swing.
await,
wait
Be patient and wait your turn!
Be patient and wait your turn!
come to
By the time it came to my turn to sing, I was very nervous.
By the time it came to my turn to sing, I was very nervous.
PREPOSITION
in turn
(= one after the other)
They gave their names in turn.
They gave their names in turn.
in sb's turn
(esp. BrE)
She had not been friendly to Pete and he, in his turn, was cold to her when she came to stay.
She had not been friendly to Pete and he, in his turn, was cold to her when she came to stay.
out of turn
(= before or after your turn)
Batista had batted out of turn.
Batista had batted out of turn.
5. change
ADJECTIVE
abrupt,
sudden
He seems to have taken an abrupt career turn with his new movie.
He seems to have taken an abrupt career turn with his new movie.
dramatic,
remarkable
decisive, drastic, radical
Schuler's life took a radical turn when he became obsessed with horses.
decisive, drastic, radical
Schuler's life took a radical turn when he became obsessed with horses.
different,
new
interesting
The video market took an interesting turn in the mid 1980s.
interesting
The video market took an interesting turn in the mid 1980s.
bizarre,
ironic,
odd,
shocking,
strange,
surprising,
unexpected
The trial has taken an even more bizarre turn today.
Events took a surprising turn.
The trial has taken an even more bizarre turn today.
Events took a surprising turn.
ugly,
unfortunate
The battle took an unfortunate turn.
The battle took an unfortunate turn.
downward
VERB + turn
take
Her career took an unexpected turn when she moved to Vancouver.
Her career took an unexpected turn when she moved to Vancouver.
mark,
signal
It marks a major turn in this presidency.
It marks a major turn in this presidency.
PREPOSITION
by turn,
by turns
This movie is by turn (= alternately) terrifying and very funny.
This movie is by turn (= alternately) terrifying and very funny.
on the turn
(= changing)
Our luck is on the turn.
Our luck is on the turn.
PHRASES
take a turn for the better,
take a turn for the worse
I'm afraid Grandma has taken a turn for the worse.
I'm afraid Grandma has taken a turn for the worse.
a turn of events
In a dramatic turn of events she took the company into her own hands.
In a dramatic turn of events she took the company into her own hands.