Meanings
- pluralplural onlyAbrupt changes in direction or orientation (often used figuratively).
“What a romantic old lane this it,” said Diana, as they walked along its twists and turns.
1909, Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter 21, in Anne of Avonlea3 more examples
The same ignorance and avarice which made him think the education of his children an useless expense, caused him to reject the advice of his friends to make a will, which would also be attended with a little expense; and there were so many twists and turns in the law he said, every one ought to keep clear of it […]
1814, Mary Leadbeater, Elizabeth Shackleton, “Calculation”, in Tales for Cottagers, Dublin: John Cumming, page 24There was no question, of course, as to its final outcome, with six against one; but meanwhile the one was giving the six the surprise of their lives in the shape of well-dealt blows and skillful twists and turns that caused their own strength and weight to react upon themselves in a most astonishing fashion.
1916, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 11, in Just DavidThe twists and turns of U.S. policy, which once bewildered our allies as well as our enemies, can be expected to straighten out into a more surely predictable course.
1945 July 9, “On to Berlin”, in Time
- indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of twist and turn
Translations
French méandres, rebondissements
- méandresTranslations
- rebondissementsTranslations
- péripétiesTranslations
Polish niuanse, zawiłości
- niuanseTranslations
- zawiłościTranslations
- meandryTranslations
Spanish vericuetos, vicisitudes
- vericuetosTranslations
- vicisitudesTranslations
- idas y vueltasTranslations
Cite this entry
twists and turns. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/twists%20and%20turns
“twists and turns.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/twists%20and%20turns. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “twists and turns,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/twists%20and%20turns.
Source: twists and turns on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.