turn over a new leaf

English

Etymology

Figurative by the same metaphor as with turn the page.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Verb

turn over a new leaf (third-person singular simple present turns over a new leaf, present participle turning over a new leaf, simple past and past participle turned over a new leaf)

1. (idiomatic) 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.

Synonyms

• start with a clean sheet
• turn the page

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “determination to do what is wrong or destructive”): break bad

Translations

to engage in self-improvement

• Basque: orrialdeko pasatu, orria pasa
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 改過自新／改过自新 (zh) (gǎiguòzìxīn), 棄舊圖新／弃旧图新 (zh) (qìjiùtúxīn), 悔過自新／悔过自新 (zh) (huǐguòzìxīn), 改行自新 (gǎixíngzìxīn), 重新做人 (chóngxīn zuòrén)

• Danish: tage skeen i den anden hånd
• Finnish: kääntää uusi lehti
• French: tourner une nouvelle page (fr)
• German: ein neues Leben beginnen, einen neuen Kapitel aufschlagen
• Japanese: 心を入れ替える (kokoro o irekaeru)
• Polish: rozpoczynać nowy rozdział impf, rozpocząć nowy rozdział pf
• Russian: нача́ть с чи́стого листа́ pf (načátʹ s čístovo listá), нача́ть жить по-но́вому pf (načátʹ žitʹ po-nóvomu)
• Spanish: pasar de página

See also

• get one's act together
• wipe the slate clean

Further reading

• “turn over a new leaf”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “turn over a new leaf” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “turn over a new leaf” (US) / “turn over a new leaf” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.