turn turtle

Idioms  

1. Capsize, turn upside down, as in When they collided, the car turned turtle. This expression alludes to the helplessness of a turtle turned on its back, where its shell can no longer protect it. [First half of 1800s]

---

Example Sentences

And, after the manner of such eccentric craft, the canvas shell proceeded to turn turtle.

From Lad: A Dog by Terhune, Albert Payson

Her tail rose, and she started, with dreadful deliberateness, to turn turtle.

From The Trail of the Hawk A Comedy of the Seriousness of Life by Lewis, Sinclair

Iron, coffins our ships, Davy's wictims our men; In wessels unsteady, We're ready, aye ready, To sink or turn turtle again and again!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, September 9, 1893 by Various

It would never have been believed two years ago that ships like the Cressy, Aboukir, and Hogue would turn turtle a few minutes after a single blow from a torpedo.

From The Story of the Great War, Volume I (of 8) Introductions; Special Articles; Causes of War; Diplomatic and State Papers by Churchill, Allen L. (Allen Leon)

More than once, as the wind changed a point, it seemed that the cranky craft must turn turtle.

From In Clive's Command A Story of the Fight for India by Strang, Herbert