Capsize, turn upside down, as in When they collided, the car turned turtle. This expression alludes to the helplessness of a turtle turned on its back, where its shell can no longer protect it. [First half of 1800s]
turn turtle
| Idioms: turn turtle |
| WordNet: turn turtle |
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.
The verb has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
overturn accidentally, as of boats
Synonyms: capsize, turtle
Learn More
 | turtle |
| Turtle Graphics (technology) |
| BDO |
 | What happens when a turtles shell turns green? Read answer... |
| Does a baby turtles shell turn soft when it is growing? Read answer... |
| What does it mean when a turtle's shell turns green? Read answer... |
Help us answer these
 | Why is your turtles shell turning white? |
| Why is your pet turtle turning blue? |
| Why do turtles shells turn white? |
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Copyrights:
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 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more |
Related answers
- If turtles turn on their backs do they die?
- Can you turn a box turtle upsidedown?
- When turtles are dead what product would they turn into?
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Answer these
- What does turning turtle mean?
- Why does a turtle shell turn soft?
- Why is your box turtle turning grey?
- Can you turn a turtle nice?
Mentioned in
- turtle
- Turtle Graphics (technology)
- BDO
- Capsize
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- turn
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- Cuora pani
- Italian ironclad Caio Duilio
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- Graftal
- Hunting Mister Heartbreak: A Discovery of America
- Phantom's Revenge
