Meanings
- idiomaticusually preceded by theCircumstances change so that a previously disadvantaged party gains the advantage, or vice-versa.
"The poor old Worm turns as if she was treading on him instead of cuddling him like a pussy cat."
1875, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter 12, in Eight Cousins3 more examples
"I've waited on you hand and foot, done dirty work for you, put up with your ill-humours and your tyranny, and never grumbled. But there is a limit! You've made a poor sort of creature of me, but even the worm turns, you know."
1914, E. Phillips Oppenheim, chapter 22, in The Vanished MessengerHowever, the evidence to date in the new session indicates the worm may have turned. The government has become more seasoned and confident of its political skills.
1982 December 11, Frances Russell, “Economic performance buoys Pawley’s position”, in The Vancouver Sun (The Weekend Sun), Vancouver, BC, page A6"New Jersey used to be the armpit of the universe," Mr. Rockland said. "Well, the worm turns. And I think anything that's down so long eventually is going come up."
2002 April 21, Vicki Vasilopoulos, “Word's Out. New Jersey's In.”, in New York Times, retrieved 13 Dec 2016
Cite this entry
worm turns. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worm%20turns
“worm turns.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worm%20turns. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “worm turns,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worm%20turns.
Source: worm turns on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.