Word.ws English Dictionary

turning a phrase

turning a phrase is the present participle and gerund of turn a phrase.

Meaning of turn a phrase

Verb

turn a phrase (third-person singular simple present turns a phrase, present participle turning a phrase, simple past and past participle turned a phrase)

  1. (idiomatic) To create a particular linguistic expression which is strikingly clear, appropriate, and memorable.
    • Gerard coloured all over at the compliment; but not knowing how to turn a phrase equal to the occasion, asked her if he should resume her picture.1861, Charles Reade, chapter 61, in The Cloister and the Hearth

Questions about turning a phrase

What is turning a phrase the present participle and gerund of?
Turning a phrase is the present participle and gerund of turn a phrase.

Words near turning a phrase in the dictionary

  1. turning a corner
  2. turning a deaf ear
  3. turning a hair
  4. turning a number of shades of red
  5. turning a page
  6. turning a phrase
  7. turning a profit
  8. turning a setback into a comeback
  9. turning a trick
  10. turning about
  11. turning again

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: turning a phrase (page history and authors); turn a phrase (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “turning a phrase.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/turning_a_phrase. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.