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Glite Dictionary
to make a left turn

to make a left turn

4 1.8
Turn a car or other vehicle left at an intersection
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : girar a la izquierda
  • As we approached the traffic lights, the GPS instructed us to make a left turn.
  • waited to make a left turn
  • make a left turn onto her street
  • make a left turn on red

So if I go to make a left turn over here, what I found the best thing to do is palm this yoke right here.

Examples

  • At the next intersection, make a left turn to get onto Main Street.

  • We are making a left turn.

    The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938)

  • Come on, stone head, make a left turn here.

    The Man Who Wasn't There (1983)

  • Then make a left turn.

    The Score (2001)

  • At the next intersection, make a left turn.

    The Women (2008)

  • Her attention shifted momentarily from the couple crossing the street as she waited to make a left turn.

    Academic text (2007)

  • In one kilometer, make a left turn into Sanctuary Cove Road.

    Absolute Deception (2013)

  • Early Tuesday morning, Michael Overton was making a left turn when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a light pole and continued on, hitting two trees.

    Blog text (30)

  • According to Gwinnett County Police, at approximately 6:39 a.m., a tractor-trailer was eastbound on Highway 316 and made a left turn onto Hurricane Trail Road.

    Blog text (23)

  • In one kilometer, make a left turn into Sanctuary Cove Road for the best route.

Synonyms

to go left
vsto make a left turn
31 1.0

Turn to the left

is more specific to driving at junctions rather than general movement
to hang a Louie
vsto make a left turn
  • Informal
1 9.9

Turn left while driving or riding a bike

is the neutral term for turning left, usually at an intersection while driving

How Sharp

to swerve
61 2.8
to make a left turn
4 1.8

Surface Forms

make a left turn infinitive
made a left turn past
made a left turn past participle
making a left turn present participle
makes a left turn third person singular

Morphology

make + a + left + turn

The meaning 'to turn left' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'make' (perform), 'left' (direction) and 'turn' (to change direction). This verb + noun construction ('make a ___ turn') is a regular, compositional traffic/motion pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the words will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Make a left turn comes from a clear driving picture: you make the car turn to the left at a corner by moving the steering wheel and moving into the new lane. So, it means 'to turn left', especially when you are driving at an intersection.