What Does “turn sth over” Mean?
The phrasal verb “turn something over” means to flip or rotate an object, or to think carefully about something. It can also refer to business activities, like selling products.
Introduction
The phrase “turn sth over” has several common uses in English. It can describe physically flipping an object, such as turning a pancake over in a pan. It also means to think deeply about an idea or problem, like turning a thought over in your mind. Additionally, in business, “turn sth over” refers to the amount of sales or money a company generates within a certain period. Understanding the different turn sth over meaning helps learners use it naturally in everyday conversations and professional contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: turn something over
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1
- Short meaning: flip physically, think carefully, or sell goods
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Turn something over” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between “turn” and “over” or after the whole phrase.
- Turn the page over.
- Turn over the page.
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common when the object is a pronoun.
- Turn it over. (correct)
- Turn over it. (incorrect)
How to Use turn sth over?
Use “turn sth over” when you talk about physically flipping objects, such as food or papers. It also works when discussing thinking deeply about something or reviewing ideas. In business, it describes the total sales or revenue made.
Example contexts include cooking, studying, decision-making, and business reports.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “turn sth over in a sentence”:
- She turned the steak over to cook the other side.
- Before making a decision, I like to turn the problem over in my mind.
- The company turned over millions of dollars last year.
- Turn the page over to see the instructions.
- He turned over the idea several times before agreeing.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or meaning when using “turn sth over.”
- Incorrect: Turn over it the card.
- Correct: Turn the card over.
- Incorrect: I turned over the idea quickly without thinking.
- Correct: I turned the idea over carefully before deciding.
Remember, the object should be placed correctly, especially with pronouns.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “flip over,” “turn around,” and “think over.”
- Flip over: usually refers only to physically turning something quickly.
- Turn around: means to rotate or reverse direction, often physically or figuratively.
- Think over: focuses only on considering or reflecting on something carefully.
“Turn sth over” is more versatile because it covers physical flipping, thinking, and business sales.
Common Collocations
You will often see “turn sth over” with certain objects or ideas. Here are some common collocations:
- Turn a page over: to flip a page in a book or document.
- Turn a steak over: to cook the other side of meat.
- Turn an idea over: to think carefully about a plan or concept.
- Turn over stock: to sell goods in a store.
- Turn over profits: to generate income or revenue.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of turn sth over:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “turn sth over”:
Anna: Can you turn the chicken over? It looks like it’s burning.
Mike: Sure, I’ll turn it over right now.
Anna: Also, have you turned over the proposal in your mind yet?
Mike: Yes, I’m still thinking about it carefully.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “turn sth over”:
- Could you please ______ the pancake ______ so it cooks evenly?
- Before deciding, I need to ______ the idea ______ a few more times.
- The company ______ over $5 million last year.
FAQ
- What does “turn sth over” mean? It means to flip an object, think carefully about something, or sell goods in business.
- Is “turn sth over” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “turn” and “over” or after the phrase.
- Can I use “turn sth over” with pronouns? Yes, but the pronoun must come between “turn” and “over” (e.g., turn it over).
- What is a common mistake with this phrasal verb? Placing the object after “over” when it is a pronoun (e.g., turn over it) is incorrect.
- How is “turn sth over” used in business? It refers to the total sales or revenue generated by a company.
