The spelling of the phrase "turned against" encompasses a few interesting phonetic quirks. The first syllable, "turned," begins with the voiced dental fricative /ð/, which is spelled with the letters "th." The second syllable, "against," features an unstressed schwa /ə/ sound that is spelled with the letter "a." The "st" consonant cluster in the middle of "against" is pronounced as a voiceless alveolar fricative /s/, as opposed to its voiced counterpart /z/. These nuances highlight the complexity of English spelling rules and the importance of learning and practicing phonetics.
The phrase "turned against" refers to a situation where someone or a group of people change their opinion, feelings, or allegiance towards someone or something, usually resulting in hostility, opposition, or betrayal. It describes a shift in attitude from support, favor, or cooperation, to a more negative, adversarial, or antagonistic position.
When an individual or a group turns against someone, they may have once been supportive, friendly, or loyal, but due to certain circumstances, their sentiment shifts. This could be prompted by a disagreement, a change in circumstances, an act of betrayal, or a realization of a previously hidden agenda or negative aspects of the person or thing they were supporting.
The phrase can be applied to various contexts. For example, a leader can experience being turned against by their followers if they fail to fulfill promises or display unfavorable actions. In politics, a politician can lose public support as voters turn against them due to failed policies or scandals. Similarly, in personal relationships, friends, partners, or family members can turn against each other due to broken trust, conflicting interests, or differing values.
"Turned against" indicates a dramatic change in sentiment, as the previous backing or cooperation has shifted to opposition, disdain, or even hostility. It signifies a loss of trust and support, often leading to a strained relationship, conflicts, or even a complete disassociation between the parties involved.
The word "turned against" is a phrase composed of two separate words: "turned" and "against". Here is the etymology of each word:
1. Turned: This is the past participle of the verb "turn". Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English word "tūrnian", meaning "to revolve, rotate, or twist". It developed from the Proto-Germanic word "turnōną". Over time, this word has evolved to encompass various meanings, including "to change direction or position", "to change in nature or quality", and "to divert or deflect".
2. Against: This word originated from Middle English and can be traced back to the Old English word "ongegn" (or "ongēan"), which indicated "in opposition to" or "in front of".