turn over a new leaf

turn over a new leaf
make a fresh start

I'm going to turn over a new leaf and begin to practice the piano every day.

Digest 20/2002
to change one's bad ways and begin to lead a better life

The man promised the judge that he was finished with his life of crime and that he was ready to turn over a new leaf.

The expression probably originates from the idea of life as a book full of pages (leaves). When one turns over a new leaf, he leaves behind a spoiled page of his life and turns to a fresh, clean page to start anew.

Idioms and examples. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • turn over a new leaf — {v. phr.} To start afresh; to have a new beginning. * / Don t be sad, Jane, Sue said. A divorce is not the end of the world. Just turn over a new leaf and you will soon be happy again. / Compare: CLEAN SLATE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • turn over a new leaf — {v. phr.} To start afresh; to have a new beginning. * / Don t be sad, Jane, Sue said. A divorce is not the end of the world. Just turn over a new leaf and you will soon be happy again. / Compare: CLEAN SLATE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • turn over a new leaf — ► turn over a new leaf start to act or behave in a better way. Main Entry: ↑leaf …   English terms dictionary

  • turn over a new leaf — REFORM, improve, mend one s ways, make a fresh start, change for the better; informal go straight. → leaf * * * phrasal : to make a radical change especially for the better in one s way of living or doing turned over a new leaf at forty and… …   Useful english dictionary

  • turn over a new leaf —    If a person turns over a new leaf, they decide to change their behaviour and lead a better life.     When Ted left prison, he was determined to turn over a new leaf …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • turn\ over\ a\ new\ leaf — v. phr. To start afresh; to have a new beginning. Don t be sad, Jane, Sue said. A divorce is not the end of the world. Just turn over a new leaf and you will soon be happy again. Compare: clean slate …   Словарь американских идиом

  • turn over a new leaf — verb To engage in self improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit. Every year he resolves to turn over a new leaf and start exercising …   Wiktionary

  • turn over a new leaf — how many released prisoners actually turn over a new leaf? Syn: reform, improve, mend one s ways, make a fresh start, change for the better; informal go straight …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • turn over a new leaf — begin living by a new set of rules or values    Since Bob stopped drinking he s turned over a new leaf …   English idioms

  • turn over a new leaf — to start behaving in a better way. Apparently he s turned over a new leaf and he s not drinking any more …   New idioms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”