turn around

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Explanation of "Turn Around"

Definition:
The phrase "turn around" can be used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it means to change direction to face the opposite way, or to improve significantly in some way. As a noun, it refers to the act of turning in the opposite direction or a significant improvement or reversal in a situation.

Usage Instructions

1. As a Verb:

   • Use "turn around" when talking about physically changing direction or when someone or something improves significantly.
   • Example: "After he studied hard, his grades turned around."

2. As a Noun:

   • Use "turnaround" when referring to the action of changing direction or a period of improvement.
   • Example: "The company experienced a turnaround after they changed their management."

Examples

1. Physical Direction:

   • "When I realized I was lost, I had to turn around and go back."

2. Significant Improvement:

   • "The new training program turned around the team's performance in just a few weeks."

3. Noun Usage:

   • "The turnaround in the project was surprising; we finished ahead of schedule."

Advanced Usage

• "Turn around" can also imply a metaphorical change, such as changing one's mind or approach.
  • Example: "After the meeting, she decided to turn around her strategy for the project."

Word Variants

• Turnaround (noun): Refers to the process of turning around or a significant improvement.
• Turnaround time (noun): The time taken to complete a process or task and return to the starting point.

Different Meanings

1. Literal Meaning: To physically change direction (e.g., turning your body).
2. Metaphorical Meaning: To improve a situation or performance significantly.
3. Business Context: A recovery from poor performance, such as a company improving its financial situation.

Synonyms

• For Physical Direction:

  • Reverse
  • Change direction
  • Pivot

• For Improvement:

  • Improve
  • Recover
  • Bounce back

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Turn the tide": To cause a change in a situation, especially to favor one side.

  • Example: "The new policy helped turn the tide in our favor."

• "Turn a blind eye": To ignore something intentionally.

  • Example: "He decided to turn a blind eye to the minor rule violations."

Summary

"Turn around" is a versatile phrase in English used to describe both physical and metaphorical changes in direction or improvement. It's commonly used in everyday conversation, business contexts, and can be expressed in various forms and synonyms.

Academic

Noun

1. turning in an opposite direction or position
   • the reversal of the image in the lens

Verb

1. improve significantly; go from bad to good
   • Her performance in school picked up
2. improve dramatically
   • The new strategy turned around sales
   • The tutor turned around my son's performance in math
3. turn abruptly and face the other way, either physically or metaphorically
   • He turned around to face his opponent
   • My conscience told me to turn around before I made a mistake

Synonyms

• reversal
• pick up
• swing around
• swing about