turn turtle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Her tail rose, and she started, with dreadful deliberateness, to turn turtle.

From The Trail of the Hawk A Comedy of the Seriousness of Life by Lewis, Sinclair

I don't know, but perhaps the minute I get some wind in the sail the whole outfit will turn turtle.

From The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers by Patchin, Frank Gee

At any moment the West Barbican might turn turtle.

From The Wireless Officer by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)

Being almost hove short, the ship could not rise quickly enough to the seas, and was besides rolling so much that she threatened to turn turtle every minute.

From A Modern Buccaneer by Boldrewood, Rolf

Iron, coffins our ships, Davy's wictims our men; In wessels unsteady, We're ready, aye ready, To sink or turn turtle again and again!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, September 9, 1893 by Various