30 Collocations with Turn to Enhance Your English Fluency

Mastering collocations is a crucial step in advancing your English proficiency. Collocations are combinations of words that frequently occur together and sound natural to native speakers. In this blog post, we’ll explore 30 essential collocations with turn. Each entry will include a clear definition, phonetic transcription, and practical examples to illustrate how the phrase is used in everyday conversation.

30 Collocations with Turn 🔄 to Enhance Your English Fluency

One versatile verb in English is “turn,” which pairs with a variety of words to create meaningful phrases. Understanding these collocations not only helps you sound more fluent but also deepens your comprehension of common expressions.

Whether you’re an advanced learner aiming to refine your skills or a beginner looking to build a solid foundation, these collocations will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. Let’s dive into these valuable expressions and elevate your English language capabilities!

#1. Turn up 🔍

Definition: To increase the volume, intensity, or level of something.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ʌp/

Examples:

1. Can you turn up the music? It’s too quiet.
2. She turned up the heat because it was cold in the room.

#2. Turn down 📉

Definition: To decrease the volume, intensity, or level of something.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn daʊn/

Examples:

1. Please turn down the TV; it’s too loud.
2. He turned down the job offer because it wasn’t what he wanted.

#3. Turn around 🔄

Definition: To change direction or to improve a situation.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn əˈraʊnd/

Examples:

1. The company managed to turn around its financial situation.
2. He had to turn around and go back because he forgot his wallet.

#4. Turn over 🔁

Definition: To transfer control or to flip something.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ˈoʊvər/

Examples:

1. She decided to turn over the project to a new team leader.
2. Turn over the paper to see the answer on the back.

#5. Turn in 🕰️

Definition: To submit something or go to bed.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ɪn/

Examples:

1. Please turn in your assignments by Friday.
2. He was exhausted and decided to turn in early.

#6. Turn out 🌟

Definition: To result in a particular way or to attend an event.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn aʊt/

Examples:

1. The event turned out to be a huge success.
2. A large crowd turned out for the concert.

#7. Turn into 🔄

Definition: To change into something different.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ˈɪntu/

Examples:

1. The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.
2. The simple idea turned into a groundbreaking project.

#8. Turn up (unexpectedly) 🎁

Definition: To appear or arrive unexpectedly.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ʌp/

Examples:

1. I was surprised when my old friend turned up at the party.
2. The missing keys finally turned up in the drawer.

#9. Turn against 🔄

Definition: To start opposing someone or something.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn əˈɡɛnst/

Examples:

1. The public turned against the politician after the scandal.
2. He felt his colleagues had turned against him.

#10. Turn a blind eye 🚫

Definition: To ignore something deliberately.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ə blaɪnd aɪ/

Examples:

1. The manager turned a blind eye to the minor violations.
2. It’s hard to turn a blind eye to the unfair practices.

#11. Turn the page 📖

Definition: To move on from a past situation or event.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ðə peɪdʒ/

Examples:

1. It’s time to turn the page and start a new chapter in your life.
2. She decided to turn the page after the breakup.

#12. Turn back ⏪

Definition: To return to a previous place or situation.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn bæk/

Examples:

1. We had to turn back because we missed the exit.
2. They decided to turn back and try a different route.

#13. Turn over a new leaf 🍃

Definition: To start fresh and change one’s behavior.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ˈoʊvər ə nu lif/

Examples:

1. After his mistake, he decided to turn over a new leaf.
2. She promised to turn over a new leaf and improve her habits.

#14. Turn your back on 🏃

Definition: To reject or abandon someone or something.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn jʊər bæk ɒn/

Examples:

1. It was wrong of him to turn his back on his friends.
2. She felt betrayed when they turned their backs on her.

#15. Turn a profit 💵

Definition: To make money from a business or investment.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ə ˈprɒfɪt/

Examples:

1. The company finally managed to turn a profit this quarter.
2. It’s important to turn a profit to sustain the business.

#16. Turn the tide 🌊

Definition: To change the direction of events or a situation.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ðə taɪd/

Examples:

1. The new strategy helped turn the tide in their favor.
2. His speech turned the tide of public opinion.

#17. Turn on (for lights) 💡

Definition: To activate or switch something on.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ɒn/

Examples:

1. Can you turn on the lights? It’s getting dark.
2. She turned on the computer to start her work.

#18. Turn to (for help) 🤝

Definition: To seek assistance or support.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn tu/

Examples:

1. When she needed advice, she turned to her mentor.
2. Many people turn to counseling during difficult times.

#19. Turn in (to hand over) 📥

Definition: To submit or surrender something.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ɪn/

Examples:

1. The thief turned in the stolen goods to the police.
2. Please turn in your report by the end of the day.

#20. Turn against (someone) 🛑

Definition: To become hostile or unfavorable towards someone.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn əˈɡɛnst/

Examples:

1. His friends began to turn against him after the argument.
2. The media turned against the politician after the scandal.

#21. Turn up (to arrive) 🚶

Definition: To arrive at a location or event.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ʌp/

Examples:

1. I didn’t expect so many people to turn up at the meeting.
2. She finally turned up at the party after being late.

#22. Turn into (a different form) 🔄

Definition: To transform or evolve into something different.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ˈɪntu/

Examples:

1. The project turned into a massive success.
2. The caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly.

#23. Turn away 🚫

Definition: To refuse to accept or look at something.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn əˈweɪ/

Examples:

1. They had to turn away guests due to lack of space.
2. She tried to turn away from the unpleasant scene.

#24. Turn over (to someone) 🗂️

Definition: To transfer control or responsibility to someone else.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ˈoʊvər/

Examples:

1. The CEO decided to turn over the project to the new manager.
2. She turned over the documents to her assistant for review.

#25. Turn a deaf ear 👂

Definition: To ignore or refuse to listen to something or someone.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ə dɛf ɪər/

Examples:

1. He turned a deaf ear to the complaints about his behavior.
2. The committee turned a deaf ear to the feedback from the public.

#26. Turn on (emotionally) 💓

Definition: To cause someone to become interested or excited.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ɒn/

Examples:

1. Her speech really turned me on to the cause.
2. The new project turned him on to innovative ideas.

#27. Turn out (as expected) 🎉

Definition: To happen in a particular way or turn out as anticipated.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn aʊt/

Examples:

1. The party turned out exactly as we had hoped.
2. Despite the issues, everything turned out fine in the end.

#28. Turn up (a notch) 🔊

Definition: To increase the intensity or level of something slightly.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ʌp/

Examples:

1. The band decided to turn up the volume a notch.
2. Can you turn up the brightness on the screen?

#29. Turn the tables 🔄

Definition: To change a situation in one’s favor after being at a disadvantage.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn ðə ˈteɪbəlz/

Examples:

1. The underdog team turned the tables and won the championship.
2. She managed to turn the tables on her competitors with a brilliant strategy.

#30. Turn out (a crowd) 👥

Definition: To gather a large number of people for an event.

Phonetic Transcription: /tɜrn aʊt/

Examples:

1. The concert turned out a huge crowd of enthusiastic fans.
2. The protest turned out thousands of people demanding change.

Collocations With Turn Table

Most Common Collocations With Turn Worksheet

Wrapping Up

Collocations with the verb “turn” are integral to mastering nuanced and natural English expressions. By understanding and using these phrases correctly, you can greatly enhance your language skills and sound more fluent in conversations. These collocations are not only useful for everyday interactions but also for more formal contexts, enriching your vocabulary and comprehension.

Each phrase carries its own unique meaning and application, making them versatile tools in both written and spoken English. By practicing these collocations and incorporating them into your daily communication, you’ll gain greater confidence and clarity in expressing yourself. Remember, the key to effective language use is not just knowing words but understanding how they fit together to convey precise meanings.

Keep exploring and practicing these collocations to continue growing your English proficiency.

Happy learning! 😊

#englezz #EnglishCollocations #LearnEnglish #Vocabulary #LanguageLearning #EnglishGrammar #FluentEnglish

Please leave this field empty

Get Free English Resources

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and courses to your email inbox - DON’T MISS OUT!

Name *

Email Address *

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.