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

In this nasty sea we were afraid she might turn turtle, as another steamer had done some months ago.

From Two Years with the Natives in the Western Pacific by Felix Speiser

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 Sinclair Lewis

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

We hope his prophecy may be realised, but we cannot help wondering what would happen if his aeroplane were to turn turtle on the way.

From Punch, or The London Charivari, Vol. 150, May 31, 1916 by Various

His boat would "turn turtle" or be cut in two by the craft behind.

From El Diablo by Dan Sayre Groesbeck