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Turn the Tide

What Does "Turn the Tide" Mean?

homeidiomsTurn the Tide
"Turn the tide" is an English idiom. It means "to cause a significant change in the course of events or the outcome of a situation."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "turn the tide" used in a sentence:
  • The discovery of a breakthrough treatment could turn the tide in the fight against the disease.
  • Their collective efforts to raise awareness about climate change aimed to turn the tide in favour of environmental preservation.
  • The arrival of reinforcements helped turn the tide of battle and led to the enemy's retreat.
meaning for turn the tide

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Turn the Tide" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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