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Glite Dictionary
to take a turn

to take a turn

26 3.6
To change direction or the way things are going, often suddenly
  • phrasal verb
  • /teɪk ə tɜrn/
translation icon : dar un giro
  • This town has taken a turn for the worse.
  • took a turn for the worse
  • took a turn for the better

Right, Right now it takes a turn for the weird.

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Examples

  • In the first months of 1999, this already bleak situation took a turn for the worse.

    Academic text (2000)

  • But then things take a turn for the worse.

    The Game of Crowns: The Tudors (2023)

  • Oh my, this just took a turn for the worst.

  • But the next day in court, things took a turn for the worse.

  • Towards the end, things took a turn and got really bad.

    Thank You for Your Service (2017)

  • Suddenly this day has just taken a turn for the better.

    The 10 Year Plan (2014)

  • Then things took a turn for the worse.

    Mara (2018)

  • Since then, the situation has taken a turn for the worse.

    Academic text (1998)

  • If an elderly person takes a turn for the worse, they usually end up in hospital.

    Academic text (2009)

  • After a few boring minutes, the discussion took a turn and everyone started to share their wildest travel stories.

Synonyms

to switch
vsto take a turn
756 2.0

To change one thing or person for another

is a change in course or character often unexpected rather than a simple exchange
to turn around
vsto take a turn
384 2.0

To move your body to face the opposite direction or change your attitude

is a change in course or character that need not be fully opposite
to change course
vsto take a turn
41 3.7

Turn a ship to a new direction to avoid danger

is a broader situational change not limited to nautical use
to pivot
vsto take a turn
  • Jargon
13 4.9

To change direction in a business or project

is any change in course or character and may be smaller or sudden
to reverse course
vsto take a turn
12 5.5

To change a decision or plan and go in a different direction

is a change that may be unexpected but not always an exact undoing
to turn round
vsto take a turn
  • UK
1 1.4

Move your body so you face the opposite direction

is a situational or conversational change rather than only physical movement

Antonyms

to stay on track
9 3.2

To focus on a goal without getting distracted

How Dramatic

to take a turn
26 3.6

Surface Forms

take a turn infinitive
taking a turn present participle
takes a turn third person singular
took a turn past
taken a turn past participle

Morphology

take + a + turn

The meaning 'to change direction or character' is directly derivable from combining 'take' (to assume/experience) with 'a turn' (a change or shift); the phrase literally signals taking a change. This compositional pattern (take + a + noun indicating a change) is common in English and in many other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Take a turn comes from the simple image of a road: imagine a car steering into a new street, so to take a turn is to change direction. So people say it when a situation or conversation 'changes direction' or becomes 'unexpected'.