turn turtle

Meaning

1. (historical, intransitive) To capture a turtle by turning it onto its back.
2. (intransitive) Especially of a boat or ship, or some other vehicle: to turn upside down.
3. (figuratively, intransitive) To fail; to go belly up.
4. (dated, idiomatic) To become upset.
5. (intransitive) 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.

Synonyms

capsize

turtle

🐢

turn topsy-turvy

turn upside-down

turn inside out

turn upside down

overturn

turn over

Translations

sotsobrar

bolcar-se

ανατρέπομαι

τουμπάρω

μπατάρω

chavirer

renverser

tortue

soçobrar

voltar-se

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɜːn ˈtɜːtəl/

Etymology

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