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📄 To hand over 🔄 To flip 💰 To sell (business) 🌱 To dig up 🤔 To consider
to turn over

to turn over

4 4.1
Think carefully about something before deciding
  • phrasal verb
  • /tɜrn ˈoʊvər/
translation icon : considerar
  • Rachel pondered this remark, turning it over and over in her mind like a bright coin from another country, as Toby sat in the front seat with her, looking out the window and leaning into every turn.
  • turn over in one's mind
  • turn over ideas
  • turn over the question

Examples

  • As I drove on my round, I turned over the case in my mind and found no explanation that appeared to me to be adequate.

    Blog text (26)

  • Already he was turning over ideas for one.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I must turn this thing over in my mind.

    Dragon Seed (1944)

  • I have turned this idea over and over in my mind all afternoon.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • "John turned it over in his mind one more time before speaking.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "Dyson," said the other, speaking very seriously, "I have been turning it over in my mind this morning while you have been out."

    Blog text (19)

  • And as you really start to turn that over in your mind, I'm going to share with you some of the things that come to mind for me.

  • He'd turned it over in his mind, talked it over with Gallagher, until it made some sense.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • But in the intervening silence, Zhurbenko turned over the question in his mind.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Before making a decision, I need to turn over the options carefully in my mind.

Synonyms

to consider
vsto turn over
∞ 1.1

To think carefully before making a decision

is more about weighing options specifically for making a choice
to deliberate
vsto turn over
43 4.4

To think about something very carefully before deciding

is focused on private weighing rather than formal group discussion
to mull over
vsto turn over
19 4.0

To think carefully about something before deciding

is phrased as general careful weighing rather than deep reflection
to think over
vsto turn over
8 3.0

To look at something carefully before deciding

is the common phrasal expression used in everyday speech
to rake over
vsto turn over
  • Informal
7.1

Carefully examine and discuss a topic, often when it is difficult or unpleasant

is more neutral weighing rather than digging into unpleasant details

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to rush
403 1.0

To make a person or thing move quickly

How Careful

to deliberate
43 4.4
to ponder
134 4.3
to turn over
4 4.1
to consider
∞ 1.1
to think about
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

turn over infinitive
turned over past
turned over past participle
turning over present participle
turns over third person singular

Morphology

turn + over

The sense 'to think carefully about' is a metaphorical extension of the physical idea of 'turning' something 'over' (as if examining all sides). While learners who know 'turn' and 'over' may get a hint from this physical image, the mental/figurative reading is not fully predictable without exposure to the phrasal verb pattern, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Turn over meaning to think about something may come from the picture of turning an object in your hands or in your mind to see all sides. So to turn over an idea is to 'think about' it carefully.