to turn away
83
2.8
- phrasal verb
- /tɜrn əˈweɪ/
- Otherwise, the indigent risk being turned away at the door of the health facility.
- turn away students
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Watch on YouTubeAnd we also turned away ships of Jews that were seeking refuge here in the United States.
- And we also turned away ships of Jews that were seeking refuge here in the United States.
- So he'd come one night on the Saturday night when they're doing the housing night, he gets turned away.
- But I think, I think the way they want the branding to stay prestigious, they would turn you away.
- Not being on the list and being turned away in front of people that, you know, it's a good thing.
- But sadly I think that this may be a little bit short for the royal enclosure and I really don't want to risk getting turned away.
- You know, there's a time where you were so used to being told no, that when people start and yes, you don't know when to turn them away.
Examples
-
The bouncer had to turn away several guests who were not on the VIP list.
-
You came to me when you needed help and I turned you away.
-
And we had we sold out on Monday, we actually had to turn people away from who were coming at the door this yesterday.
-
Not being on the list and being turned away in front of people that, you know, it's a good thing.
-
My classes were so full during this year that I had to turn students away.
Academic text (2007) -
And yet the place was filled, and people were turned away at the door.
Fiction book (1993) -
Still, because of limited facilities, many students are turned away from secondary schools.
Academic text (1991) -
Social media platforms were filled with accounts of voters being turned away from polling places.
Academic text (2018) -
Only a relatively small number of colleges and universities can afford to turn away many qualified applicants.
Academic text (1998) -
But this week, the Home Office turned away hundreds of Ukrainian refugees escaping Putin's bombs because they didn't have the right paperwork.
Synonyms
∞
1.7
To say no to a request or offer
760
1.9
Refuse to accept someone or something
661
1.6
To refuse to let someone have something
548
1.3
To stop people or things from entering a place
373
2.9
Refuse an offer, invitation, or request
335
1.6
Stop someone or something from coming near
298
7.8
Refuse to let someone enter or stay
112
3.8
To stop something from entering, being included, or being thought about
80
2.7
To tell people to leave a meeting or room
26
2.0
To stop someone from going forward or entering
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to move your body, head, or direction so you are not facing someone or something' is directly derivable from 'turn' (to rotate or change direction) combined with 'away' (in the opposite direction). This motion verb + particle construction follows a straightforward spatial composition that is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The phrasal verb turn away comes from the image of a guard at a door who literally turns a person away from the entrance. That's why it means 'to refuse to allow someone to enter'.