to turn heads
7
4.4
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
llamar la atención
- Other supercars are faster, more powerful, more reliable, but nothing turns heads like a Countach.
- still turns heads
- enough to turn heads
- start turning heads
And so the car crash turns heads, but no one ever stays.
- And so the car crash turns heads, but no one ever stays.
- It's just so, I don't know, a big white suit like that turns heads more than a, you know, cocktail dress for me.
- But even if I did something that turned heads as an actor, that still might not be enough to value the movie.
Examples
-
The dazzling dress she wore at the gala turned heads as soon as she walked in.
-
"Before long you'll be turning heads yourself."
Fiction book (2002) -
Well, you are definitely gonna start turning heads around here now.
-
The country music star turned heads for decades, and not just because of her famous figure.
Blog text (5) -
But it certainly turns heads wherever you go.
-
Miami freshman turning heads after quick start.
Blog text (23) -
Even when the rest of us were still gawky adolescents, she was already turning heads.
Fiction book (2000) -
My ginger-brown complexion, long brown hair, and nice shape definitely turn heads.
Fiction book (2002) -
The DeLorean still turns heads now and still looks more futuristic than pretty much every car on modern roads.
Blog text (6) -
The 18-year-old, who is now officially on everybody's radar after a sparkling US Open campaign, was turning heads this week with clutch performances.
Blog text (1)
Synonyms
14
3.7
To get the most attention or praise at an event
11
3.0
To get noticed and make people interested
9
4.9
To arrive somewhere in a way that draws a lot of attention
8
2.7
Attract someone's attention because it is interesting or noticeable
1
4.9
Make people notice you because they admire or are surprised by you
1
6.7
Make an audience like you and pay close attention
Antonyms
How Noticeable
- Informal
3
3.9
- Informal
7
4.4
14
3.9
71
2.5
217
1.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
turn + heads
The phrase evokes the literal image of people turning their heads toward someone or something; with 'turn' meaning redirect attention and 'heads' referring to people, the meaning 'attract attention' is directly inferable from the parts. This physical-to-attention mapping is a common, transparent metaphor cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should understand the MWE.
Etymology
The idiom turn heads shows a simple picture: people literally turn their heads to look at someone or something that stands out. So, to 'turn heads' now means 'to attract a lot of attention or admiration'.