Dictionary

left turn en · INTJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌlɛf(t)ˈtɜːn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˌlɛf(t)ˈtɝn/ (General-American)

Etymology

The noun is derived from left (adjective) + turn (noun). The interjection is derived from left (adverb) + turn (verb), while the verb is derived from the interjection.

Meanings

1. A command to a soldier or other person who is marching: turn ninety degrees to your left!
   • [I]f they each step off at the same instant, with the left foot, the sound of their feet will enable them to keep step and time, and march about in this form, as directed by the instructor, to the leading file, "right turn" or "left turn," without confusion. [1874], [Alfred Wilks Drayson], chapter XXI, in The Young Dragoon; or, Every Day Life of a Soldier. […], London: Ward, Lock, and Tyler, […], →OCLC, page 187:
   • When you joined the Territorial Force you joined a body of men who wash their necks and shine their boots. About turn. Into file, left turn. 1993, Michael Glover, “England 1914: Your King and Country”, in The Fateful Battle Line: The Great War Journals and Sketches of Captain Henry Ogle, London: Leo Cooper, →ISBN:
   • The commanding officer then orders—Shoulder Arms!—Flanks, to the centre advance!—To the right and left turn!—Forward! 1810, “Funeral Exercise”, in The Military Companion: Being a System of Company Discipline, Founded on the Regulations of Baron Steuben, Late Major-General and Inspector-General of the Army of the United-States. […], 3rd edition, Newburyport, Mass.: Thomas & Whipple. […], →OCLC, page 38:
   • Go on, soldier! Left! Right! Left! Right! Left! Right! Soldier, left turn! 2004, Roch Carrier, translated by Sheila Fischman, La Guerre, Yes Sir!, Toronto, Ont.: House of Anansi Press, →ISBN, page 77:
   • Sun Tzŭ went on: When I say "Eyes front," you must look straight ahead. When I say "Left turn," you must face towards your left hand. 1910, Sun Tzu [Traditional Han: 孫子], “Introduction”, in Lionel Giles, transl., Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War […], London: Luzac & Co., translation of 孫子兵法 [Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ, The Art of War], →OCLC, Sun Wu and His Book, page XI:
   • My family were there to witness it all and there I was bawling out the commands, "Left Turn, Right Turn, and Halt!" 2013, Billy Gilvear, Eric Gaudion, “Day of Pride”, in Storming Home: British Soldier, Bodyguard to the Stars, Boozer and Addict – Could Billy Change?, Oxford, Oxfordshire; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Monarch Books, Lion Hudson, →ISBN, page 54:

Coordinates

left face

Translations (4)

fi käännös vasempaan päin (command to a soldier or other person who is marching: turn ninety degrees to your left!) · hu balra át (command to a soldier or other person who is marching: turn ninety degrees to your left!) · ru нале́во (command to a soldier or other person who is marching: turn ninety degrees to your left!) · ms ke kiri pusing (command to a soldier or other person who is marching: turn ninety degrees to your left!)

left turn en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌlɛf(t)ˈtɜːn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˌlɛf(t)ˈtɝn/ (General-American)

Etymology

The noun is derived from left (adjective) + turn (noun). The interjection is derived from left (adverb) + turn (verb), while the verb is derived from the interjection.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) An unexpected change from the way things seemed to be going.
   • Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston, both veterans of the original Wreck-It Ralph team, also pull off some inventive, enlivening left turns that bring to mind the first film. 2018 November 14, Jesse Hassenger, “Disney Goes Viral with an Ambitious, Overstuffed Wreck-It Ralph Sequel”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 21 Nov 2019:
   • After a self-titled debut did well, Miracle took a surprising left turn with 2001's Keep It Country. 2007, Roni Sarig, Third Coast: OutKast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing, Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press, →ISBN:
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see left, turn.

Forms

Coordinates

U-turn

Relateds

take a wrong turn at Albuquerque · ← · left hook · left field

left turn en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌlɛf(t)ˈtɜːn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˌlɛf(t)ˈtɝn/ (General-American)

Etymology

The noun is derived from left (adjective) + turn (noun). The interjection is derived from left (adverb) + turn (verb), while the verb is derived from the interjection.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To turn ninety degrees to one's left, especially in response to a military command while marching.
   • They left-turned, right-turned and about-turned, and the sergeant marched them up and down a bit on the asphalt and then silently on the grass, more to get them moving than anything else. 1999, Leslie Thomas, chapter 1, in Other Times, London: Arrow Books, published 2011, →ISBN, page 3:
   • Let them but remember Lewis the eleventh, who to a Clarke of the Exchequer, that came to be Lord Treaſurer, and had (for his device) repreſented himſelfe ſitting upon fortunes wheele: told him, hee might doe well to faſten it with a good ſtrong nayle, left turning about it, it might bring him, where hee was againe. As indeed it did. [1641, Ben[jamin] Johnson [i.e., Ben Jonson], Timber: Or, Discoveries; Made vpon Men and Matter: […], London: [s.n.], →OCLC, pages 108–109:

Forms

Coordinates

left face

Translations (2)

ms ke kiri pusing (to turn ninety degrees to one's left) · fi kääntyä vasempaan (to turn ninety degrees to one's left)