🗓️ Idiom: Turn Over a New Leaf (v)
💬 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.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
👉 Relationship and Networking Idioms
👉 Business English Idioms List
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👉 Tutor Toolkit