turn the corner
يتجاوز الأزمة
Wörtlich: to rotate or move around a street corner
Use this to describe a situation that is finally improving after a difficult period.
In 15 Sekunden
- The worst part of a crisis is finally over.
- Things are starting to improve after a long struggle.
- A sign of hope and positive progress in a situation.
Bedeutung
This phrase means that a bad situation is finally starting to improve. It is like driving through a dark tunnel and finally seeing the light at the end.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Talking about a sick relative
The doctor says Grandpa has finally turned the corner and should be home soon.
The doctor says Grandpa has finally passed the crisis and should be home soon.
Discussing business profits
After two years of losses, the startup has turned the corner this quarter.
After two years of losses, the startup has started to improve this quarter.
Texting a friend about a bad week
I've had a rough month, but I feel like I'm turning the corner now.
I've had a rough month, but I feel like I'm getting better now.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase gained massive popularity during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Politicians often used it to reassure the public that economic recovery was starting. It reflects a Western cultural value of optimism and the belief that persistence eventually leads to a breakthrough.
Pair it with 'Finally'
This phrase sounds most natural when you use the word `finally`. It emphasizes how long the struggle was.
Don't use it for the end
Remember, turning the corner means you are on the right path, but you haven't finished the journey yet.
In 15 Sekunden
- The worst part of a crisis is finally over.
- Things are starting to improve after a long struggle.
- A sign of hope and positive progress in a situation.
What It Means
Imagine you are walking down a long, difficult road. You cannot see what is ahead. Suddenly, you reach a corner and turn it. The view changes completely. This is what turn the corner feels like. It means the worst part of a problem is over. You are not finished yet, but things are getting better. It is a moment of hope and progress.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a verb. You can say someone has turned the corner or is about to turn the corner. It works for health, money, or even sports teams. Use it when you see a positive trend starting. It is great for giving someone a little boost of confidence. Just remember to use the past tense turned if the improvement already happened.
When To Use It
Use it when a sick friend starts eating again. Use it when a company starts making money after a bad year. It is perfect for a meeting when a project finally starts working. You can even text it to a friend who had a rough breakup. It sounds supportive and observant. It shows you notice their hard work is paying off.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for small, easy things. If you just found your lost keys, that is not turning the corner. It is for big, long-term struggles. Also, avoid using it if things are still getting worse. It is a phrase for recovery, not for the middle of a disaster. Using it too early might make you look too optimistic or even dismissive.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the world of sailing and racing. In a race, the turn is often the most difficult part. Once you pass that corner, you are on the home stretch. In the early 20th century, it became a common way to talk about the economy. It suggests that progress is not a straight line. Sometimes you have to go through a bend to find success.
Common Variations
You might hear people say someone is around the corner. That is different! That means something is coming soon. To turn the corner means the change is happening right now. You can also say a patient is rounding the corner. This sounds a bit more gradual. Both mean that the crisis is fading into the past.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is highly versatile and fits almost any register from a casual chat to a corporate boardroom. It is most effective when describing a shift in momentum.
Pair it with 'Finally'
This phrase sounds most natural when you use the word `finally`. It emphasizes how long the struggle was.
Don't use it for the end
Remember, turning the corner means you are on the right path, but you haven't finished the journey yet.
The 'Corner' Secret
In American English, this is often used by politicians to sound optimistic without promising that a problem is 100% solved.
Beispiele
6The doctor says Grandpa has finally turned the corner and should be home soon.
The doctor says Grandpa has finally passed the crisis and should be home soon.
Used here to show a medical recovery.
After two years of losses, the startup has turned the corner this quarter.
After two years of losses, the startup has started to improve this quarter.
Shows a shift from losing money to making progress.
I've had a rough month, but I feel like I'm turning the corner now.
I've had a rough month, but I feel like I'm getting better now.
A personal reflection on mental or emotional state.
We lost today, but with this new strategy, the team is turning the corner.
We lost today, but with this new strategy, the team is improving.
Focuses on the process of improvement rather than the final result.
I haven't eaten a donut in three hours; I think I've finally turned the corner!
I haven't eaten a donut in three hours; I think I've finally overcome the crisis!
Uses the serious phrase for a trivial, funny situation.
There are clear signs that the national economy has turned the corner.
There are clear signs that the national economy has passed the worst point.
Standard professional usage for macro trends.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the best option to complete the sentence about a recovering business.
The company was failing, but they ___ the corner after hiring a new CEO.
The standard collocation is `turned the corner` to indicate a positive change in direction.
Which phrase fits a situation where someone is starting to feel better after the flu?
I was in bed for a week, but I've finally ___.
This idiom is commonly used to describe health improvements after a peak in illness.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Turn the Corner'
Used with friends about life stress.
The sweet spot for this phrase.
Used in business reports or news.
When to say 'Turn the Corner'
Health Recovery
Feeling better after surgery
Financial Growth
Company making profit again
Sports
Team winning after a losing streak
Personal Life
Getting over a difficult breakup
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot exactly. It means the worst part is over and things are improving, like saying The fever broke.
Yes, but that is literal. If you say He turned the corner, people might think he just walked around a building unless you provide context.
Absolutely. It is very common in business to describe a project that is finally succeeding, such as We have turned the corner on production delays.
Turn the corner means the change is already happening. See the light means you can see the end coming, but you might still be in the dark.
You can say rounding the corner, which is similar, but around the corner means something is about to happen in the future.
Yes, it is widely understood and used across all major English dialects, including British and Australian English.
No, it is almost exclusively used for positive transitions from a bad state to a better one.
Both are used, but turn the corner is much more common because it refers to the specific 'corner' of the crisis you are facing.
Using it for a sudden, total victory. It’s a phrase about the *start* of recovery, not the final celebration.
Only literally. If you say My car turned the corner, you are just talking about driving, not your car's health!
Verwandte Redewendungen
Get back on track
To return to the correct path or schedule after a distraction.
See the light at the end of the tunnel
To see signs that a long, difficult period is ending.
Over the hump
To have passed the most difficult part of a task.
On the mend
Specifically used for recovering from an illness or injury.
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