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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turn turtle

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

If they found their prize not seaworthy, they would take her to some small sand island and careen, while the crew helped the Indians to turn turtle, and to procure bull's flesh.

From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume I (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Walter Thornbury

The same terrific force gave the steamer a lurch, and she threatened to turn turtle.

From The Boys of the Wireless by Frank V. Webster

Let me get there," insisted Ned, "you may take a kink somewhere and make us turn turtle.

From Dorothy Dale at Glenwood School by Margaret Penrose

Being almost hove short, the ship could not rise quickly enough to the seas, and was besides rolling so much that she threatened to turn turtle every minute.

From A Modern Buccaneer by Rolf Boldrewood