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turn

turn

5 3.0
A kind action done to help someone
  • noun
  • /tɜrn/
  • UK
: favor
  • We finally do somebody a good turn, and just look what happens! #RITA#

Examples

  • I give somebody a good turn, and this is what I get for it.

  • Since it's Christmas... ...I thought we could all take turns telling what is the worst present you ever got.

  • Such difficulties, in turn, create significant obstacles in the education of students with severe disabilities.

    Academic text (2012)
  • We instinctively spot what will serve our turn; we rise to suitable occasions.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Thus, human emotions and human happiness, in turn, are closely bound up with these indefinables.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Students (in groups of 4) each give their input (orally) in turn until time runs out.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Walter stopped and took each hand in turn, engulfing each smaller hand in both of his and squeezing.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Can you do me a good turn and help me with my homework?

  • She performed many small turns for her neighbors during the winter storm.

  • He decided to return the favor and do a turn for his friend by lending him a hand.

Synonyms

favor
vsturn
  • US
∞ 1.0

An act of help done without expecting anything back

is the broad name for any helpful act regardless of expectation
19 2.1

A small helpful action someone does to make another person's day better

is a more general label focusing on help rather than generous motive
good turn
vsturn
5 2.2

An act of kindness done to help someone

is the shorter general term without the explicit positive modifier

Idioms

235 3.3

Happening one after another or as a result of what happened before

42 3.5

Again and again in every situation

Choose to ignore something wrong

To change a situation so you get the advantage over someone who had it before

Choose not to fight back after someone hurts or insults you

To begin to get better after a difficult time

Cause a big change that makes things much better

to turn to stone
  • Literature
18 7.7

Become completely still and look like stone when frightened

Completely change the usual idea about something

17 5.2

To go back to an earlier time or wish you could

Make people see something in a very different way

8 6.8

A situation that becomes noisy, messy, and out of control

6 7.2

To turn quickly in a very small space, like a car

5 9.3

You have to go home or go to bed because it is very late

A change that makes a situation better

Refuse to listen to someone who gives advice or warnings

to turn a phrase
  • Informal
3 6.8

Say something in a clever, attractive way

2 9.9

To have sex with a customer for money

1 8.4

To start crying to make someone feel sorry for you

Show no sign of worry, fear, or surprise

Help someone stop being sad and start smiling

An event that makes a tense or difficult situation worse

To be good enough for a purpose for a short time

1 7.7

Exactly the right amount or degree needed

To leave quickly by suddenly walking away because you are angry or shocked

To make you feel sick or disgusted

To give one side an advantage in a situation

To make big positive changes in your life after hard times

to execute a U-turn
  • Literature
1 5.3

Change a plan or decision so the opposite happens

7.8

Make a good amount of money from business or sales

Make good money from a business or activity

To become red in the face when you feel embarrassed

9.9

To suddenly become chaotic and very messy

8.6

To think a dead person is very upset because something goes against what they cared about

Change which person or group you support for your own benefit

Make something good from pain or a bad situation

9.9

To use swear words, often when angry

Make a situation end the way you want

To change a situation completely and suddenly

To show you think something is not good enough

turn up to bat
  • Informal
7.7

A chance to speak or act after others have had theirs

Change opinions often to fit new people or situations

A big mistake that changes your plans or life

Compounds

A period of years around the start of a new century, about ten years before and after

43 3.2

A complete turn to go the opposite way, like a car on the road

turn-on
  • NSFW
38 8.2

Something that makes someone feel sexually excited or attracted

A sudden change in a situation that makes plans or results different

30 1.0

Moving a vehicle to the left while driving

turn-off
  • Informal
13 5.0

Something that makes a person lose interest or feel dislike

10 2.5

A flashing light on a vehicle that shows which way the driver will turn or change lanes

A clever way of saying something that people remember

5 2.2

An act of kindness done to help someone

star turn
  • Literature
3 6.4

A very good performance by an actor or entertainer that gets special attention

about turn
  • Jargon
1 5.8

A complete change of direction or opinion, often sudden

left turn
  • Literature
1 5.8

Changing policies or views toward more left-wing ideas

1 2.3

A blinking light on a car that shows which way it will turn

A driving move that turns a car around in a small space

1 8.2

A skiing move where you lift one ski and turn to go the other way while standing

1 6.8

A driving move where the driver pulls the handbrake so the rear wheels slide and the car turns sharply

1 8.1

An action meant to help that causes harm or trouble

A special way of saying something when speaking or writing

stem turn
  • Jargon
1 8.2

A skiing turn where you push the tail of one ski out to slow and change direction

A large number of people who come to an event

ampere-turn
  • Specialized
7.3

A unit for magnet strength that one ampere of current produces in one loop of wire

A sudden change of plans, policy, or behaviour

9.9

A change to a more negative view of people as selfish and violent

9.9

A clever but tricky argument meant to confuse people

How Helpful

boon
37 4.4
turn
  • UK
5 3.0
service
∞ 1.6
help
∞ 1.0
gesture
237 3.2

Surface Forms

turn singular
turns plural

Etymology

Turn for a favour comes from 'turn' as an action that helps someone, so doing someone a good 'turn' is doing them a helpful action.