turn over — to turn something so the other side is facing up
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To move something so that the bottom or back is now on top or facing you.
Say it like a native
Textbook Please invert the pancake to cook the reverse side.
Native Turn the pancake over.
'Turn over' is the plain everyday verb for flipping something; 'invert' is technical.
Pattern: turn something over
In use
- Please turn over the pancake so it cooks on both sides.daily life
- In the exam, I had to turn over the paper to see the questions on the back.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Turn over it to see the back.
✓ Turn it over to see the back.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'turn it over'.
Common collocations
turn over + object— the pancake, the page, the card, it
Don't confuse it
'Turn up' means to increase volume or appear; 'turn over' means to flip something.
Related
- turn over (to give control or responsibility to someone) — Another meaning of 'turn over' is 'to give control or responsibility to someone'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.