What Does “Turn sth on sb” Mean?
“Turn sth on sb” means to direct something negative, like blame or anger, towards someone else, especially unexpectedly.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “Turn sth on sb” is often used when someone suddenly changes their attitude or actions against another person. It usually involves negative things such as blame, anger, or criticism being directed at someone else. Understanding the “Turn sth on sb” meaning helps learners recognize when someone shifts responsibility or hostility in conversations. This phrase is common in both spoken and written English, making it useful to know for everyday communication.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: turn something on somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to direct blame, anger, or criticism at someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Turn sth on sb” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object (something) can come between “turn” and “on” or after “on.”
- turn something on somebody
- turn on somebody something
Example: She turned the blame on him. / She turned on him the blame.
How to Use Turn sth on sb?
Use “turn sth on sb” when someone directs a negative feeling or action toward another person suddenly. It is often used with words like blame, anger, criticism, or suspicion.
Structure your sentence with a clear object (sth) and the person receiving it (sb). The verb “turn” shows the action of shifting something onto someone else.
Examples
Imagine a situation where a team member blames another for a mistake. You could say:
- The manager turned the blame on the assistant when the project failed.
- After the argument, she suddenly turned her anger on her best friend.
- Don’t turn your problems on me; you need to solve them yourself.
- He turned suspicion on his colleague during the meeting.
- They turned the criticism on the new employee unfairly.
These examples show how “Turn sth on sb in a sentence” is used to express shifting negative feelings or blame.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the order of words or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: She turned on him the blame.
- Correct: She turned the blame on him.
- Incorrect: He turned anger to his friend.
- Correct: He turned the anger on his friend.
Remember, use “turn something on somebody” or “turn on somebody something” to avoid mistakes.
Differences / Synonyms
“Turn sth on sb” is similar to phrases like “point the finger at” or “lay the blame on.” However, “turn sth on sb” often implies a sudden or unexpected shift.
- Turn sth on sb: sudden shift of blame or anger
- Point the finger at: accuse someone directly
- Lay the blame on: assign responsibility for something bad
While all involve blame or criticism, “turn sth on sb” emphasizes the action of redirecting something negative.
Common Collocations
People often use “turn” with specific objects to express this phrasal verb naturally. Here are common collocations:
- turn the blame on sb – to blame someone
- turn the anger on sb – to direct anger at someone
- turn suspicion on sb – to suspect someone
- turn criticism on sb – to criticize someone
- turn attention on sb – to focus attention on someone
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of turn sth on sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “turn sth on sb”:
Anna: Why did you say I caused the problem?
Mark: I didn’t want to, but I had to turn the blame on someone.
Anna: That’s unfair. You shouldn’t turn your mistakes on me.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “turn sth on sb”:
- After losing the game, the coach _______ the blame _______ the players.
- She suddenly _______ her anger _______ her brother.
- Don’t _______ your problems _______ me.
FAQ
- Q: Can “turn sth on sb” be used in positive situations?
A: No, it usually refers to negative feelings like blame or anger. - Q: Is “turn sth on sb” formal or informal?
A: It is common in both formal and informal English. - Q: Can the object “sth” be a pronoun?
A: Yes, you can say “turn it on sb.” - Q: What is the difference between “turn on sb” and “turn sth on sb”?
A: “Turn on sb” means to attack or become hostile; “turn sth on sb” means to direct something negative at someone. - Q: Can I use “turn the blame on” with multiple people?
A: Yes, you can say “turn the blame on them.”
