turn in one's grave
Appearance
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Documented in English since 1801, perhaps from Jewish rabbinic tradition that the bones of Judah rolled about in his coffin for his shame during the Exodus
Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
[edit]turn in one's grave (third-person singular simple present turns in one's grave, present participle turning in one's grave, simple past and past participle turned in one's grave)
- (idiomatic) To be appalled, offended or disgusted by something, despite being deceased.
- Beethoven is probably turning in his grave at the way that rock group mangled his Ninth Symphony.
- The new scientific discovery about the gravitation particle could make Isaac Newton turn in his grave.
- 1937, Rodgers and Hart (lyrics and music), “Johnny One Note”:
- Brought forth wind that made critics rave / While Verdi turned round in his grave
- 1989, The The (lyrics and music), “Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)”, in Mind Bomb:
- If he ever finds out who's hijacked his name / He'll cut out his heart and turn in his grave
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see turn, in, one's, grave.
Translations
[edit]be appalled, offended or disgusted by something, despite being deceased
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