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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

turn one's back en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To cease paying attention.
    • As soon as I turned my back, he started writing on the wall.
  2. (figuratively, intransitive) To forsake, to abandon; to ignore.
    • Acting on your best behaviour Turn your back on Mother Nature Everybody wants to rule the world 1985, Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Chris Hughes, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, in Songs from the Big Chair, performed by Tears for Fears:
    • He got off to a strong start, only to turn his back on the project two months later.
    • In response to questions from RailReview, Royal Mail denied turning its back on rail transport completely, stressing it will continue to use rail, keeping the amount of mail moved by train under regular review. 2024 October 30, Andy Comfort, “Can the Royal Mail trains keep on running?”, in RAIL, number 1021, page 62:
  3. (intransitive) To turn away, as when fleeing or in contempt.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
turning one's back Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
turned one's back Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
turned one's back Tense=Past lexicographic
turns one's back Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

turn one's coat · tergiversate

Translations (11)

hu hátat fordít (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · fi kääntää selkänsä (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · it volgere le spalle (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · es dar la espalda (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · fr tourner le dos (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · nl de rug toekeren (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · pl odwrócić się (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · uk відверта́тися (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · uk відверну́тися (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · pl odwracać się (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore) · it voltare le spalle (to forsake, to abandon; to ignore)