Turn Over a New Leaf

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🗓️ Idiom: Turn Over a New Leaf (v)

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💬 Meaning

• To start fresh or make a positive change in one’s behavior, attitude, or lifestyle.
• It refers to abandoning old habits and adopting better ones, often after a mistake or failure.

🧠 Example Sentences

• After missing several deadlines, she promised to turn over a new leaf and improve her work ethic.
• He turned over a new leaf by arriving early and contributing more in meetings.
• The company turned over a new leaf with a new CEO and a clearer mission.

🏛️ Origin

This idiom comes from the time when “leaf” referred to a page in a book. To “turn over a new leaf” meant to flip to a fresh page, symbolizing a fresh start or new beginning.

📝 Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank:

After receiving negative feedback, the employee decided to __________ and take more initiative at work.

Answer

turn over a new leaf

2. Choose the correct meaning of “turn over a new leaf”:

A) To repeat the same behavior
B) To make a fresh start or improve
C) To close a book

Answer

B) To make a fresh start or improve

3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

“He stopped being careless at work and began trying his best.” → Change the sentence using: turn over a new leaf

Answer

He turned over a new leaf and stopped being careless at work.

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ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

👉 Relationship and Networking Idioms
👉 Business English Idioms List
👉 Student Space
👉 Tutor Toolkit

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