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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Turn a corner

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Begin to improve after a difficult period.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. After several difficult weeks, the project finally turned a corner.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Begin to improve after a difficult period.
Show the answer

Turn a corner — Begin to improve after a difficult period.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Turn a corner” about your own life.

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Does your sentence match this meaning?

Begin to improve after a difficult period.

Compare: After several difficult weeks, the project finally turned a corner.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this expression about a project, organisation or situation whose progress is getting better. It suggests a positive change without claiming every problem is solved.

More examples in context

  • The club has turned a corner now that more members are joining.
  • We seem to be turning a corner with the new timetable.

Usage note

“Turn the corner” is another established form. The idiom describes the start of improvement, rather than simply a change of any kind or a literal turn in a road.

A short conversation

A: Are the evening classes still struggling for numbers?
B: We’ve turned a corner. The last three sessions were well attended.
A: That is encouraging. Let’s see what helped.

One more practice question

What does “The project has turned a corner” suggest after a difficult month?

A. Its situation has begun to improve.
B. Every problem has necessarily been solved permanently.

Check your answer

A. The expression marks an improvement after difficulty, not a promise of perfection.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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