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Glite Dictionary
to turn up on its ear

to turn up on its ear

8.6
To change a situation completely and suddenly
  • idiom
  • US
translation icon : dar un giro inesperado
  • The new evidence turned up on its ear everything we thought we knew about the case.

Examples

  • The invention of smartphones turned up on its ear the entire communication industry.

  • Her sudden resignation turned up on its ear the company’s plans for the next year.

  • The merger turned up on its ear the entire industry!

  • His unexpected resignation turned up on its ear the company's plans!

  • Her sudden resignation turned up on its ear the company’s plans for the next year.

  • The invention of smartphones turned up on its ear the entire communication industry.

  • The new evidence turned up on its ear everything we thought we knew about the case.

Synonyms

to turn (something) upside down
vsto turn up on its ear
  • Informal
51 4.5

Cause a big sudden change that leaves people confused

emphasizes the sudden and surprising nature of the change
to shake up
vsto turn up on its ear
41 4.2

To upset someone strongly and change how they feel

is about changing the whole situation, not only upsetting parts
to take a turn
vsto turn up on its ear
26 3.6

To change direction or the way things are going, often suddenly

implies a larger, more dramatic upheaval rather than a simple shift
to rock the boat
vsto turn up on its ear
  • Informal
20 5.3

Do or say something that causes trouble and upsets other people

is stronger and more transformative, not just causing trouble
to turn the tide
vsto turn up on its ear
15 4.2

Cause a big change that makes things much better

can be more dramatic and surprising without implying improvement
to turn (something) on its head
vsto turn up on its ear
  • Informal
12 6.5

Make people see something in a very different way

is more about a sudden, dramatic disruption of real situations
to flip the switch
vsto turn up on its ear
11 3.5

Cause a sudden change, for example by moving a small control to turn something on

is broader, stressing complete disruption rather than quick activation
to turn on one's head
vsto turn up on its ear
  • Informal
1 7.1

Completely change what people think about something

focuses more on surprising, disruptive change in actual events
to turn on someone's head
vsto turn up on its ear
7.5

Completely change the usual idea about something

refers more to causing a dramatic, often surprising real-world upset
to shift the dial
vsto turn up on its ear
7.2

To make a clear change in a situation or result

implies a more complete, dramatic overturning of circumstances

Antonyms

to maintain
931 3.1

Keep an activity, quality, or schedule going over time

to stabilize
  • US
75 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

How Disrupted

to overthrow
127 5.1
to turn up on its ear
  • US
8.6
to disrupt
269 4.4
to shake up
  • Informal
55 4.3
to alter
493 2.5

Surface Forms

turn up on its ear infinitive
turned up on its ear past
turned up on its ear past participle
turning up on its ear present participle
turns up on its ear third person singular

Morphology

turn + up + on + its + ear

The overall sense 'to disrupt or completely change' cannot be reliably derived from the literal meanings of 'turn' + 'up' + 'on its ear' because 'on its ear' is an idiomatic locution (ear is not literal) and the particle combination does not follow a straightforward compositional pattern. Although 'turn' suggests change, the specific figurative meaning is unpredictable for a B1 learner who knows the individual words, so prior exposure or cultural knowledge is needed.

Etymology

Turn up on its ear may come from the image of turn and up making an object fall onto its ear, as if a person or plan is knocked over and left stunned. So, when a plan or situation 'turns up on its ear' it means it is suddenly disrupted or completely changed.