turn of phrase

noun phrase

: a way of saying or describing something
a nice turn of phrase

Examples of turn of phrase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
This is an interesting turn of phrase, given that all these resolutions specifically state that the deliberate starvation of civilians by siege is a war crime under international law. Annie Sparrow, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2016 Businesses also wrestle with their public-facing brand and their operations behind the curtain (to borrow a turn of phrase from The Wizard of Oz, which Lynch professes to think about every day). Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2024 While muscle knots aren’t actually knotted, the discomfort is real and the turn of phrase endures. Harri Weber, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2024 But one particular turn of phrase from Trump captured the internet’s attention. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2024 For every turn of phrase that could move Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins) up a Duolingo level, the marketing ingenue peppers her cheery English sentences with a whole lot of embarrassing merde. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2024 McCarthy does land one surprising interview subject, however: the writer who couldn’t have known the long-lasting impact his turn of phrase would end up having. Michael Nordine, Variety, 17 June 2024 Rather, Washington’s national security establishment has unthinkingly internalized a Trump-era turn of phrase that is rife with unrealistic expectations and unvetted assumptions. Van Jackson, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2021 The ability of corporate directors to hang on to their seats as if with prehensile behinds (to filch Orwell’s turn of phrase) underscores the uselessness of corporate boards. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2023

Dictionary Entries Near turn of phrase

Cite this Entry

“Turn of phrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20of%20phrase. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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