turn of phrase

noun

An expression which is worded in a distinctive way, especially one which is particularly memorable or artful.

“This author has a beautiful turn of phrase.”

Similar
styleproseturn of expression
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Meanings

nounturn of phrase (countable and uncountable, plural turns of phrase)

plural turns of phrase

  1. countableAn expression which is worded in a distinctive way, especially one which is particularly memorable or artful.

    "I should call it a most nice sort of surprise," remarked the girl with a quaintly un-English turn of phrase which he had already noticed and thought the most delightful thing in the world.

    1922, Dorothy Canfield, “Chapter 43”, in Rough-Hewn
  2. uncountableA distinctive way of wording things, a distinctive way of writing or speaking.

    This author has a beautiful turn of phrase.

    Synonyms: style, prose

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA distinctive way of wording things, a distinctive way of writing or speaking.

Similar
styleprose

More synonyms by meaning

nouna distinctive spoken or written expression

Similar
turn of expression
Broader
expressive stylestyle
Also see
figure of speechturn of wordsway of speaking

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Compare trope, with same sense of turn to mean indirect language.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan gir
  • girexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
Esperanto esprimo
  • esprimoexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
Finnish sanakäänne, lausekäänne
  • sanakäänneexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • lausekäänneexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • lauseparsiexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
French tournure de phrase, tour de phrase
  • tournure de phraseexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • tour de phraseexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
German Redewendung
  • Redewendungexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
Hungarian szófordulat, fordulat
  • szófordulatexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • fordulatexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • szóhasználatexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • beszédfordulatexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • kifejezésmódexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • kifejezésexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • szólásmódexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • szólásexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
Italian giro di parole, modo di dire
  • giro di paroleexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • modo di direexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • proprietà di linguaggioexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • modo di esprimersiexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
Polish zwrot
  • zwrotexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
Russian оборо́т ре́чи
  • оборо́т ре́чи (oborót réči)expression which is worded in a distinctive way
Spanish expresión, giro de frase
  • expresiónexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
  • giro de fraseexpression which is worded in a distinctive way
Cite this entry
APA

turn of phrase. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20of%20phrase

MLA

“turn of phrase.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20of%20phrase. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “turn of phrase,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20of%20phrase.

Source: turn of phrase on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.