left turnn.
/ˌlɛf(t) ˈtəːn/, U.S. /ˌlɛf(t) ˈtərn/ 1. A place or point where a road, path, etc., turns or turns off towards the left.
ΚΠ
1827 Morning Chron. 24 Aug. 1/5 The horses..took the left turn up Snow-hill.
1884 M. J. B. Baddeley & C. S. Ward North Wales I. 183 Take the left turn opposite the road that crosses the Ogwen.
1931 Washington Post 15 Sept. 6/1 Beginning this morning motorists in Washington will negotiate left turns according to the nationally approved pattern.
1979 Antioch Rev. 37 238 He saw her take the left turn into the north woods.
2011 J. S. Burk Wildlife of New Eng. 88 Continue..to a nearly hidden left turn at a sign for the refuge.
2.
a. A sharp change in direction or orientation towards the left; esp. a turn made by a motor vehicle from one road on to another.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > movement of vehicles > [noun] > specific turning made by motor vehicle
left turn1929
right turn1953
three-point turn1957
right1969
wheelie1973
1839 A. Somerville Hist. Brit. Legion xx. 389 By sundry movements of right-wheels, and right-turns, then left turns..we, at double speed, were on our way to be met in the fight.
1883 Proc. Court of Inq. Case of Gouverneur K. Warren II. 1222 I wish it not to be understood that General Ayres wheeled; he made more of a left turn.
1929 Washington Post 16 Aug. 6/7 There are any number of tourists who do not understand our method of making a left turn.
1985 N.Y. Times 15 Apr. b7/1 The captain was deceived by the faulty instrument into making a left turn far beyond what he intended.
2010 Sci. News 177 32/1 Knowing when to make a left turn in traffic separates experienced drivers from 16-year-olds.
b. figurative. A significant shift towards the political left in the views, attitudes, or policies of a person, group, etc.
ΚΠ
1895 Times 5 Feb. 5/3 Both the North and the South German Press characterize the result of the elections in Würtemberg..as a decided ‘left turn’.
1927 North-China Herald 5 Mar. 367/1 The first open schism between the two factions took place..when the ‘Labour-Farmer Party’..took a Left turn.
1997 S. Goldman Picking Federal Judges ii. 16 The New Deal responded by taking a sharp left turn.
2013 J. Pribble Welfare & Party Politics Lat. Amer. viii. 177 This finding..has practical consequences for the ability of Latin America's recent left turn to produce reductions in poverty and inequality.
c. figurative. A (sudden) marked change of direction, esp. one resulting in a move towards something considered to be unexpected or unusual. Also: an unexpected turn of events, a surprise.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [noun] > cause of surprise
marvelc1300
miracle1586
surprise1592
bricolea1631
surprisal1660
thunderbolt1787
startle1823
start1825
startler1829
eye-opener1833
a bolt from (or out of) the blue1837
shock1841
thunder-clap1852
startlement1867
staggerer1872
thunderstroke1880
Scarborough warning1890
surprise packet1900
bombshell1926
curveball1936
turn-up1942
a turn-up for the book(s)1948
conversation stopper1959
left turn1986
1986 Iola (Kansas) Reg. 21 Aug. 11/2 Valesente's destiny took an abrupt, unexpected left turn.
1987 Washington Post 9 Sept. d2/5 It was one of life's little left turns that really give you pause—a scary, powerful, reflective time for me.
1998 L. Palmer How to write it, how to sell It 140 If your current script is a farce, then don't take an abrupt left turn into satire and expect the reader to follow you without confusion.
2012 Guardian (Nexis) 18 Aug. (Guide Suppl.) 9 Jessie's life took a sharp left turn when her old schoolfriend..phoned her out of the blue to ask if she'd do backing vocals for him on a BBC session.
Compounds
General attributive (in sense 2a), as left-turn lane, left-turn signal, etc.
ΚΠ
1927 Manch. Guardian 20 June 6/6 The left turn signal is least easily done.
1979 N.Y. Times 8 Apr. nj 30/1 I voted with the majority..to assist the school I was 'associated with' to obtain a traffic light and a left-turn lane.
2005 Mass. Rev. 46 535 Her left-turn light stuttered.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
left turnint.v.
/ˌlɛf(t) ˈtəːn/, U.S. /ˌlɛf(t) ˈtərn/ A. int.
Originally and chiefly Military. Used as a command to turn ninety degrees to the left.
ΚΠ
?1794 Eighteen Manouvres, as practised by His Majesty's Infantry xv As soon as the Captains give the words, Left turn..they take post on their Front Rank.
1845 J. Smith Syst. to organize & establish Mil. Discipline 205 ‘Left turn’. Advance the right foot..and turn to the left.
1902 J. W. Fortescue Hist. Brit. Army III. 532 The only form of column known in India was that obtained by giving the line the simple words..‘Left turn’.
1942 Chicago Defender 25 July 23/5 Left turn! Divide by file! Countermarch!
2010 P. Hennessey Junior Officers' Reading Club 40 Left turn, right turn, about turn..salute to the left.
B. v.
intransitive. To turn to or towards the left; (Military) to turn ninety degrees to the left in response to a command.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > movement of vehicles > move or go along [verb (intransitive)] > make specific turn
left turn1918
right turn1947
1862 C. H. Collette Handy Bk. Company Drill xv. 49 The left Subdivision will left turn and mark time.
1918 Official Automobile Blue Bk. VIII 628 Go down San Francisco street..to left turn and pass the Executive Mansion.
1954 Glasgow Herald 12 Nov. 6/2 At the word of command the parade left-turned and marched off.
2009 J. Evanovich Finger Lickin' Fifteen 127 I left-turned onto Morelli's street.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1827
int.v.?1794