turn turtle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To capture a turtle by turning it onto its back.
Especially of a boat or ship, or some other vehicle: to turn upside down.
To fail; to go belly up.
To become upset.
To roll upside down with one's surfboard (usually a longboard) to allow a wave, especially a wave that has already broken, to pass over.

/ˈtɜːn ˈtɜːtəl/ /ˈtɝn ˈtɝtəl/ [-ɾəl] en-au-turn turtle.ogg

turn turtle turns turtle turning turtle turned turtle turn the turtle

Possibly from the fact that turning a turtle and placing it on its back renders it helpless.

turtle

turtling Eskimo roll upside down

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