Language: en
Meaning: (intransitive,nowhistorical)Tocapturea turtle by turning it onto itsback.1805,James Stanier Clarke, “Pacific Ocean”, inNaufragia or Historical Memoirs of Shipwrecks and of the Providential Deliverance of Vessels, London: Printed by I. Gold,[…], for J. Mawman,[…],→OCLC,page400:Before Noon, the next Day, I sent off the Master, Mr.Aikin, and a Party to the Island, victualled for a week, toturn Turtle. The Evening brought us light breezes with fine pleasant Weather; and the Cutter came back with a couple of Turtle, which we served out as before.1837,James Edward Alexander, chapter XII, inNarrative of a Voyage of Observation among the Colonies of West Africa, in the Flag-ship Thalia; and of a Campaign in Kaffir-land, on the Staff of the Commander-in-chief, in 1835.[...]In Two Volumes, volume I, London:Henry Colburn, publisher,[…],→OCLC,page297:No ships' crews are now allowed toturn turtle, which is converted into a government monopoly; and two pounds ten shillings is the fixed price for each.1866, Richard Meade Bache, “How to Find a Turtles Nest—Habits of the Turtle—Turning Turtles”, inThe Young Wrecker of the Florida Reef; or The Trials and Adventures of Fred Ransom, Philadelphia, Pa.: James S. Claxton, successor to W[illia]m S. & Alfred Martien,[…],→OCLC,page297:It was agreed that we would go ashore that night, andturn turtle. The season being that when the turtles commence to lay, the captain was certain that we would capture at least one.; (intransitive)Especially of aboatorship, or some othervehicle: toturnupside down.Synonym:(verb)turtle1847, “A Leaf or Two from an Old Log”, inColburn’s United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal, part II, London: H. Hurst,[…],→OCLC,page191:Gymnastics of every description, even the Kroo canoe afforded its mite towards the general hilarity, byturning turtlewith the awkward aspirants for paddling fame.1848,[James Fenimore Cooper], chapter VI, inJack Tier; or The Florida Reef.[…], volume I, New York, N.Y.: Burgess, Stringer & Co.,→OCLC,page157:This brig is American—the schooner alongside is a Spaniard, thatturned turtlein a tornado, about six-and-thirty hours since, and on which we have been hard at work trying to raise her, since the gale which succeeded the tornado has blown its pipe out.1864,Oliver P[erry] Morton, chapter IV, in William M. French, editor,Life, Speeches, State Papers and Public Services of Gov. Oliver P. Morton, Cincinnati, Oh.: Moore, Wilstach, & Baldwin Printers,[…],→OCLC,page89:If you ask a Douglas politician whether the people of the Territories have power to exclude slavery, heturns turtle, and draws his head under the shell of non-intervention.1925,Samuel A’Court Ashe, “Steamboats—Fulton Arrives”, inHistory of North Carolina[...]In Two Volumes, volumeII (From 1783 to 1925), Raleigh, N.C.: Presses of Edwards & Broughton Printing Company,→OCLC,page267:It [the steamboatCity of Fayetteville] was launched not far from the Clarendon bridge, and it has been related that some one having prophesied that it wouldturn turtlewhen it reached the water, the architect boldly rode in its bow, as it slipped off its ways and the event justified his faith in his work.1956July, “Hi There! Stop and Ponder—and Save a Trip up Yonder”, in Leslie E. Troeger, editor,National 4-H News, volume XXXIV, number 7, Chicago, Ill.: National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work,→OCLC,page11:April 1956.Two Champaign youths racing, one with 1956 Plymouth, crashes through new woven wire fence,turns turtle.; (intransitive,figuratively)Tofail; to gobelly up.2016, Bill Christine, “Put theSchadenfreudeon Hold”, inBill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey, Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland & Company,→ISBN,page110:On a day-to-day basis, his [Bill Hartack's] businessturned turtle; some years he wouldn't even win a hundred races. But at Derby time, he was still the jockey of choice, in demand for many of the major trainers.; (dated,idiomatic)Tobecomeupset.; (intransitive,surfing)Torollupside down with one'ssurfboard(usually alongboard) to allow awave, especially a wave that has alreadybroken, topass over.2009,Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, with Scott Bannerot, “Getting Started: A Complete Mini-primer”, inWingnut’s Complete Surfing, Camden, Me.; New York, N.Y.:International Marine; McGraw-Hill,→ISBN,page23:As you encounter waves on the way out, you have five ways of getting past them:[…]Turn turtle. Turn upside down and hang onto therails(i.e., the edges) near the nose of the board, pulling it downward, so that the oncoming wave pushes on this slanted shield, forcing you and the forward part of the board downward[…].
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