To turn around is to face the opposite direction. Also, to rescue a failing situation.
The physical sense is plain and works for people, cars and ships. The business sense is where the phrase earns its money, since turning around a failing company means saving it, and the noun turnaround describes that recovery. Turnaround also means the time taken to complete something, so a quick turnaround is a fast service. British English also writes turn round for the physical sense.
1phraseturn aroundTo face or move in the opposite direction.
“Turn around and look at me.”
2phraserescueTo rescue something that was failing.
“It took three years to turn around the business.”
turnaround Deverbal from turn around.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Phrasal Verbs, A Man Called Ove
First appears in chapter 1 of A Man Called Ove.
Practise this word