turn for the better
3
3.6
- idiom
:
cambiar para mejor
- With the new management in place, the company's performance has taken a turn for the better.
- took a turn for the better
Examples
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In your absence, my romantic life has taken a turn for the better.
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Put an F-T plant at every rural co-op, and farm economics will take a turn for the better.
Blog text (29) -
Suddenly this day has just taken a turn for the better.
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Four years ago, his life took a turn for the better.
Blog text (6) -
Things have taken a turn for the better since I realized I had dropped the astrological ball and gave myself a stern talking to.
Blog text (19) -
After settling down away from other people and taking my time to recharge, I have found that my attitude has completely taken a turn for the better.
Academic text (2015) -
Prince William had been contentedly and fruitfully married for two years, and his political fortunes had taken a turn for the better.
Academic text (1999) -
After months of struggle, her business finally took a turn for the better.
-
I felt a wave of relief when everything took a turn for the better during the meeting.
Synonyms
41
4.4
A big change that makes results much better
Antonyms
How Improved
523
3.4
∞
1.0
3
3.6
748
2.5
- US
75
4.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'turn' (to change) with the directional/benefactive phrase 'for the better' (toward an improved state), so the meaning 'change to a better situation' is directly derivable from the constituent words. This is a regular, compositional pattern found across languages and common in English, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Turn for the better uses turn as a change of direction; imagine a stormy road that suddenly bends into a sunny path, so things improve. That's why when something turns for the better, it changes in a way that 'leads to an improvement'.