turn turtle

English

WOTD – 2 May 2019

Etymology

A boat that has turned turtle (sense 1) or capsized

Possibly from the fact that turning a turtle and placing it on its back renders it helpless.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɜːn ˈtɜːtəl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɝn ˈtɝtəl/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: turn tur‧tle

Verb

turn turtle (third-person singular simple present turns turtle, present participle turning turtle, simple past and past participle turned turtle)

1. (intransitive) Especially of a boat or ship, or some other vehicle: to turn upside down.

   Synonym: turtle (verb)

2. (intransitive, surfing) To roll upside down with one's surfboard (usually a longboard) to allow a wave, especially a wave that has already broken, to pass over.
3. (intransitive, figuratively) To fail; to go belly up.
   • 2016, Bill Christine, Bill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey (page 110)

     On a day-to-day basis, his business turned turtle; some years he wouldn't even win a hundred races.

Related terms

• turtling (noun)

Translations

to turn upside down

to roll upside down with one's surfboard

See also

• Eskimo roll
• upside down