Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • The worm turns
    The worm turns
    One's luck or fortune changes.
  • worm turns, the
    worm turns, the
    Also, the worm has turned. Even a very tolerant person will one day lose patience. For example, He bullied his assistant for years, but one day the worm turned and he walked out without notice, taking along his best clients. This expression comes from the proverb Tread on a worm and it will turn, first recorded in John Heywood's 1546 collection.

The worm turns

Cultural  
  1. One's luck or fortune changes.


worm turns, the Idioms  
  1. Also, the worm has turned. Even a very tolerant person will one day lose patience. For example, He bullied his assistant for years, but one day the worm turned and he walked out without notice, taking along his best clients. This expression comes from the proverb Tread on a worm and it will turn, first recorded in John Heywood's 1546 collection.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As the story’s many twists expose Daisy and Craig for who they really are, they come to understand that once the worm turns, the forbidden fruit isn’t quite so appealing.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2023

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "The worm turns" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com