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Glite Dictionary
to turn on a dime

to turn on a dime

3 7.2
To turn quickly in a very small space, like a car
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : girar en un espacio reducido
  • Romney displayed a nimble ability to turn on a dime, emerging with a raft of proposals that sounded reasonable and cogent.
  • able to turn on a dime

And because he just, everything he's doing is just turning on a dime and he's nice.

Examples

  • The stock market has much better liquidity and can turn on a dime.

    Blog text (15)

  • Ted turns on a dime and runs smack into Sigfried, who's been taking in the whole conversation.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • And at any moment, we can turn that on a dime, in our favor.

    Blood Dried Hands (2024)

  • Yet things have turned on a dime in the past and can do so again.

    Blog text (4)

  • Things can turn on a dime, of course.

    Blog text (17)

  • But fashion is ever-changing and can turn on a dime.

    Blog text (29)

  • Life turns on a dime, Moll.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The Bullitt may be 8 feet long, but it turns on a dime (assuming a competent rider).

    Blog text (7)

  • I love that you were able to turn on a dime—this is my hallmark also.

    Blog text (34)

  • The agile dancer can turn on a dime, impressing the audience with her quick movements.

Synonyms

to spin
vsto turn on a dime
227 1.0

To make something turn around quickly

is similar but focuses on precise small space agility rather than speed
to swerve
vsto turn on a dime
61 2.8

To turn suddenly to avoid hitting something

shows controlled, tight directional change rather than emergency avoidance
to spin around
vsto turn on a dime
38 2.1

To turn your body quickly in a circle many times

performs the same move but in a tight, constrained space
to wheel
vsto turn on a dime
24 4.1

To turn quickly to face a different direction

executes very tight, agile maneuvers within small space
to wheel around
vsto turn on a dime
3 4.2

To turn quickly to face a different direction

moves in a very small space with agile, precise motion

How Quickly

to turn on a dime
  • Informal
3 7.2
to spin
227 1.0
to turn
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

turn on a dime infinitive
turned on a dime past
turned on a dime past participle
turning on a dime present participle
turns on a dime third person singular

Morphology

turn + on + a + dime

The meaning is a metaphorical extension: 'turn' is literal and 'dime' denotes a very small coin, so 'turn on a dime' invites the inference of turning within a very small space or with great agility. However, the mapping from 'dime' (a specific U.S. coin) to 'very small space/quick maneuver' is figurative and somewhat culture-specific, so a B1 learner would only partially predict the exact sense without prior exposure.

Etymology

Turn on a dime comes from the image of a car that can turn while its wheels stay almost on a tiny coin called a dime. That picture of turning in the space of a small coin helps show why it now means 'to turn in a very small space or to move very quickly'.