10 Useful Expressions with “Turn” in English

Expressions with turn are very common in English, and learning them can make your speaking and writing sound much more natural. The word turn appears in idioms, fixed phrases, and everyday expressions, which makes it a very useful word for English learners.

In this lesson, you will learn 10 useful expressions with turn in English, along with clear meanings and natural example sentences.

1. Turn of speed

Meaning: the ability to move very quickly, especially suddenly. This expression is often used when talking about athletes or animals.

• The winger has a remarkable turn of speed, which makes him very difficult to defend against.
• The horse showed an impressive turn of speed in the final stretch of the race.

2. Turn over a new leaf

Meaning: to start behaving in a better or more responsible way. This is a very common idiom when someone decides to improve their habits or lifestyle.

• After years of wasting money, he finally decided to turn over a new leaf.
• Nina says she’s going to turn over a new leaf and start studying seriously.

3. One good turn deserves another

Meaning: if someone helps you, you should be willing to help them in return. This expression is often used when returning a favour.

• You helped me move house last weekend, so I’ll help you paint your flat. One good turn deserves another.
• “Thanks for driving me to the station.” “No problem — one good turn deserves another.”

4. Turn of mind

Meaning: a particular way of thinking or a natural mental tendency. This expression sounds slightly formal, but it is very useful in writing.

• She has a practical turn of mind and is excellent at solving everyday problems.
• His creative turn of mind made him well suited to a career in design.

5. Do someone a good turn / do someone a bad turn

Meaning: to do something helpful for someone / to cause someone a problem or disadvantage. Do someone a good turn is more common. Do someone a bad turn is less common and sounds slightly old-fashioned, but it still appears in English.

• Can you do me a good turn and post this letter on your way to work?
• She really did me a good turn by recommending me for the job.
• He did his colleague a bad turn by blaming her for his own mistake.

6. Speak out of turn / talk out of turn

Meaning: to say something at the wrong time, too boldly, or without the right authority. This expression is often used when someone says something they perhaps should not have said.

• I hope I’m not speaking out of turn, but I think we need a better plan.
• He talked out of turn during the meeting and annoyed the manager.

7. Turn and turn about

Meaning: one after the other, in rotation, or by taking equal turns. This is a less common expression today, but it is still useful to recognise.

• The children rode the bicycle turn and turn about all afternoon.
• We worked turn and turn about so that nobody became too tired.

8. Not know which way to turn

Meaning: to feel confused, overwhelmed, or unsure where to go for help. This is a very expressive phrase, often used when someone is under stress.

• After losing both her job and her flat, she didn’t know which way to turn.
• At the start of his first year at university, he didn’t know which way to turn for advice.

9. Turn a blind eye

Meaning: to pretend not to notice something wrong or illegal. This is a very common and useful idiom.

• The manager turned a blind eye to the staff arriving late.
• We cannot keep turning a blind eye to problems in the education system.

10. Turn a deaf ear

Meaning: to refuse to listen to someone or ignore what they say. This expression is often used when someone ignores advice, complaints, or requests for help.

• She turned a deaf ear to her parents’ warnings.
• The government was accused of turning a deaf ear to public concerns.

Final thoughts

Expressions with turn can add colour, variety, and precision to your English. Some of them, such as turn over a new leaf, turn a blind eye, and turn a deaf ear, are especially common and worth learning straight away. Others, like turn of mind or turn and turn about, are a little more advanced, but they can still enrich your vocabulary and help you understand more formal or literary English.

The best way to learn these expressions is to treat them as whole chunks, not as separate words. Write your own sentences with them, notice them when reading, and try to use them in speaking and writing.